Staff Mechanical Design Engineer, Motor

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.

As the Staff Mechanical Design Engineer, Motor, you will have a critical technical role guiding and shaping the design, release, and integration of an electric motor. Specifically, technical responsibility for motor electromagnetic analysis, NVH analysis, thermal analysis, and performance analysis. You will work with purchasing to source components and work collaboratively with suppliers to ensure manufacturability at scale. You will develop DFMEAs and DVPRs to ensure robust analytical and physical validation.

• Design mechanical components of stators, rotors, and their integration
• Iterate motor mechanical designs to optimize electromagnetic performance while ensuring manufacturability and cost-effectiveness
• Lead engineering on winding technologies, magnet materials, lamination methods, insulation, and electrical interconnections
• Design, model, and simulate electromagnetic components and systems using industry-standard software
• Develop detailed CAD drawings and manufacturing instructions
• Perform linear static stress and structural analyses on components under operational and dynamic loads.
• Execute and document Design Verification Plans & Reports (DVP&R)
• Develop and maintain Design Failure Mode and Effects Analyses (DFMEAs)
• Coordinate validation and quality assurance activities with Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers
• Collaborate across disciplines to advance designs from initial concept through prototyping to mass production.
• Support hands-on prototype assembly, testing, and component fabrication

• BS in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field; MS preferred
• 5+ years of experience leading validation efforts in automotive or high-power product field
• Proficient in CAD tools (CATIA/3DExperience preferred) and PLM systems for component design, including BOM structuring and engineering change control.
• Proficient in industry-standard electromagnetic simulation
• Strong mechanical engineering foundation, with expertise in materials, heat treatments, statics, dynamics, and mechanics of materials
• Experienced in high-volume manufacturing techniques for electric motor components (e.g., stamping, winding, welding)
• Deep understanding of electric motor design parameters and their influence on torque, power, efficiency, thermal performance, and NVH
• Skilled in FEA using tools like Ansys, Abaqus, and HyperWorks; experienced with MATLAB and/or Python for performance modeling and data analysis
• Proficient in GD&T and tolerance stack-up analysis to ensure reliability
• Hands-on experience with integration, assembly, testing, and troubleshooting of electric motors

Salary Range for California Based Candidates: $137,800.00 - $172,200.00 (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law).

Benefits Summary: Rivian provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26. Coverage is effective on the first day of employment.

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] .

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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.

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