Staff Quality Engineer, Pre-Production at Rivian in Torrance, CA

Role Summary

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic Staff Quality Engineer to join our expanding Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturing team. This staff-level role requires a deep, cross-functional understanding of the entire vehicle system. You will operate as a technical authority and lead, driving structural improvements, establishing long-term quality processes, and mentoring the quality team with minimal managerial oversight.

Responsibilities

• Act as a technical authority for entire vehicle systems, ensuring holistic integration and quality
• Design and implement robust quality management processes that create a scalable and healthy quality system for the plant
• Coordinate and mentor the broader quality team, providing technical guidance and driving alignment across departments without daily managerial intervention
• Serve as the primary technical lead for complex quality challenges, driving resolution with autonomy and high-level strategic decision-making
• Own the end-to-end customer complaint process specifically for EV manufacturing issues (e.g., interiors, exteriors, LVE, chassis, HV). Identify and solve quality issues within our factory quality gates, ensuring defects are contained effectively and fixed with robust corrective actions
• React quickly to quality escalations, initiating and driving immediate containment actions on the shop floor to protect the customer
• Lead structured investigations (5D/8D, Kaizen methodology), prepare professional customer-facing reports, and ensure the timely implementation and closure of all corrective actions
• Coordinate and lead cross-functional teams, including Production, Engineering, and Supplier Quality, to quickly resolve urgent manufacturing and field quality issues
• Investigate complex component failures using established problem-solving tools (e.g., 5 Why, Fishbone diagrams, Fault Tree Analysis)
• Conduct production line audits to verify the effectiveness of containment actions and prevent defect recurrence
• Provide real-time data analysis and quality feedback to support fast-paced EV production goals
• Update essential quality documents (quality alerts, work instructions, process documents) based on lessons learned from field and manufacturing issues
• Serve as the designated leader for a specific Quality Loop or special project, acting as the single point of contact for the entire factory regarding the project's status, corrective actions, and overall resolution

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial, Mechatronics, or a related field)
• 8+ years of dedicated quality engineering experience in automotive or EV manufacturing, with a track record of driving systemic process improvements
• Deep subject matter expertise in at least one major vehicle system (e.g., Propulsion, Thermal, Chassis, or E/E) and comprehensive knowledge of vehicle-level integration
• Proven, hands-on experience managing customer complaints and driving containment actions in high-volume production environments
• Expert-level knowledge of ISO 9001/IATF 16949, APQP, and advanced statistical methods
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills (8D or similar method problem-solving experience) ~ SIX SIGMA GreenBelt is a Plus
• Demonstrated experience with GD&T
• Proven experience acting as a lead or principal engineer with significant autonomy; ability to influence cross-functional leadership
• Must be able to travel at least 20%, travel may increase in time
• This position is subject to cover 1st / 2nd / 3rd shift if needed
• Must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, bilingual is a plus (English / Spanish)
• Team player - ability to work in a fast-paced, highly ambiguous, multi-cultural environment with cross-functional teams

Pay Disclosure

Salary Range for California Based Applicants: The salary range for this position is $137,800 - $172,200 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 successful candidate may be eligible for annual performance bonus and equity awards. Benefits Summary: 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). This job is not expected to be closed any sooner than 7/3/2026.