Senior Fasteners Engineer

Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract. 

As a company, we constantly challenge what’s possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations. 

This role is responsible for end-to-end technical support of Standard Components, across supplier engagement, drawing and CAD release, revision control, PPAP / deviation disposition, production-change implementation,supply risk response, and lab testing and validation of hardware.

The role serves as the engineering focal point for external suppliers and cross-functional Rivian teams, ensuring that fastener/joint technical requirements are reflected as supplier deliverables and that changes are reflected consistently in drawings, part numbers, supplier documentation, inventory, POs, orders, shipment priorities, and manufacturing use. The role partners with Materials Planning, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Supplier Development, Quality, Operations, and Manufacturing; it provides the technical content and engineering disposition needed to support those teams’ transactional and execution responsibilities.

The role can be located in either Rivian’s Tustin CA offices, Normal IL plant, or our Plymouth MI offices

• Own the technical supplier interface for Standard Components. Lead and participate in supplier technical reviews; translate Rivian application, performance, assembly, material, coating, thread, retention, and dimensional/packaging requirements into supplier actions; resolve open technical issues through documented decisions, follow-up, and closure.
• Manage engineering drawings, CAD, redlines, and revision release. Create, review, mark up, and release 2D/3D CAD and production drawings; incorporate changes to geometry, tolerances, thread form, coatings, patches, materials, markings, and application callouts; maintain revision notes and communicate released versus preliminary status to suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Control part-number, suffix, supersession, and configuration alignment. Review whether new or substitute part numbers are backward compatible; determine when a change requires a new suffix or revision; align Rivian part numbers with supplier part numbers; and ensure the correct part number and revision are reflected in drawings, supplier documentation, SAs, POs, inventory, and production records.
• Define and review PPAP, deviation, certification, and supplier-quality requirements.
• Review supplier PPAP packages, dimensional layouts, deviation requests, material/coating certifications, hydrogen-embrittlement documentation, process evidence, and performance requirements; identify missing or inadequate requirements; provide technical disposition; and coordinate corrective updates before release or production use.
• Coordinate samples, lab trials, lineside validation, and production readiness. Define sample quantities and destinations; coordinate shipment and receipt with suppliers, shipping, and Rivian labs; align test methods and torque/tooling requirements; review results with DRE, manufacturing, supplier development, and operations; and provide engineering approval or conditions for shipment and production use.
• Provide engineering support for inventory, demand, POs, and supplier orders. Work with Purchasing re: supplier part availability, on-hand inventory, consumption rates, runout risk, shipment status, and order quantities when engineering changes or supplier constraints affect production.
• Lead engineering change implementation into production.
• Determine whether legacy parts may continue, whether a supplier may proceed with tooling or production, and what controls are required for a transition; align the released drawing, part-number configuration, PPAP status, inventory disposition, torque programming, and supplier/plant timing.
• Act as the cross-functional escalation point for Standard Components risks. Identify technical or supply risks early, escalate decisions requiring DRE, Quality, Supplier Development, Planning, or Global Supply approval, and maintain clear written communication of decisions, owners, timing, and release conditions.

• 7+ years of experience as a fasteners, mechanical, materials, quality, or supply chain engineer in a manufacturing environment
• BS in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering or other relevant field.
• Experience with CAD/PLM software and methods, such as CATIA/ENOVIA, for editing and release of 3D/2D part drawings.
• Expertise with industry standards and the ability to author in-house fastener and fastener installation specs/standards.
• Familiarity with primary automotive structures with critical fastening quality requirements, such as Body, Interior and Chassis assemblies.
• Working knowledge of commonly used automotive materials, their manufacturing methods and their influence on joint design, fastener selection and validation. Includes aluminums, steels, multiple grades of plastic, sealants, adhesives and composites.
• Top-notch communication skills to external Supplier and Tier partners.
• Comfortable providing 1:1 support to design and manufacturing engineers, and providing best practices guidance and technical presentations to the engineering community.
• Ability to specify and execute industry standard fastener and joint mechanical tests, as well as design custom tests for analysis of fastened components and assemblies.
• Comfortable as a primary technical point of contact for diagnosing and containing emergent Manufacturing and Service part concerns.

Preferred / Beneficial:

• Advanced degree in relevant engineering discipline
• Direct experience with industry standard components manufacturers.
• Knowledge of statistical process control methods
• Capable of safely operating basic metallographic laboratory equipment and performing failure analysis and testing on fastener components and joints.

The salary range for this role is $98,500 - $123,100 for California based applicants. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, shift, and organizational needs.

The salary range for this role is $89,900 - $112,400 for Michigan based applicants. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, shift, and organizational needs.

The salary range for this role is $89,900 - $112,400 for Illinois based applicants. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, shift, and organizational needs.

The successful candidate may be eligible for annual performance bonus and equity awards. 

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26, including but not limited to paid vacation, paid sick leave, and a competitive portfolio of insurance benefits including life, medical, dental, vision, short-term disability insurance, and long-term disability insurance to eligible employees. You may also have the opportunity to participate in Rivian’s 401(k) Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program if you meet certain eligibility requirements. Full-time employee coverage is effective on their first day of employment. Part-time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment. More information about benefits is available at rivianbenefits.com. 

You can apply for this role through careers.rivian.com (or through internal-careers-rivian.icims.com if you are a current employee). 

Equal Opportunity

Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Rivian is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at [email protected].

Candidate Data Privacy and Technology

Rivian may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Rivian may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian affiliates; and (iii) Rivian’s service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.

Rivian may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions. 

How We Use AI in Our Hiring Process: To ensure transparency, we want candidates to know that Rivian uses iCIMS Talent Cloud Artificial Intelligence (TCAI) and AI-enabled tools to assist with screening, reviewing, organizing and highlighting profiles and applications that match the key requirements for each role.

Participation in AI profile matching is entirely voluntary. If you prefer that your profile not be used in this process, you can opt out at any time. Opting out means your profile will be excluded from automated matching and will not be surfaced for additional roles through this system. Your current application remains active and will not be affected in any way.

Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.