Vehicle Operator Specialist (1st Shift),… at Rivian · Chicago

Role Summary

The Vehicle Operator Specialist plays a vital operational, hands-on, and instructional role in the testing, safety validation, and ground support of Autonomy Systems Validation. Reporting directly to the Operations Coordinator, this role bridges the gap between field-testing drivers and ground logistics/facilities. In addition to serving as a senior driver operating prototype vehicles across public roads and private test tracks, you will act as on-shift floor lead and driver trainer/coach. You will oversee vehicle prep, ground support, data offloading, pre/post-trip operations, and shift handovers, while actively onboarding, training, and coaching vehicle operators to maintain top-tier safety and testing execution.

Responsibilities

Operator Training, Coaching & Mentorship

• Assist the Operations Coordinator in preparing training materials, conducting onboarding programs, and delivering hands-on driving and safety instruction for new vehicle operators.
• Continuously evaluate vehicle operator performance, provide real-time coaching on disengagement protocols, defensive driving, and test procedures, and reinforce high safety standards.
• Guide operators on standard operational workflows, proper logging procedures, software flashing methods, and vehicle prep standards.
• Act as the primary on-shift floor point of contact for driver questions, fostering a culture of continuous learning, psychological safety, and open feedback. Testing Operations
• Safely operate prototype test vehicles in autonomous, semi-autonomous, and manual modes across diverse weather, traffic, and road conditions for up to 8 hours daily.
• Maintain constant situational awareness and safety vigilance, executing manual disengagements and safety interventions seamlessly when necessary.
• Perform pre-defined test cases, specialized driving scenarios, and edge-case evaluations on public roads and closed-course test facilities.

Ground Support & Fleet Operations

• Support the Operations Coordinator by assisting with daily shift handovers, driver shift readiness, route assignments, and vehicle allocations.
• Conduct and supervise pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspections, basic system checks, hardware setups, and sensor calibrations/cleanings prior to test runs.
• Track vehicle health, coordinate routine maintenance or repair appointments with service technicians, and manage fleet charging logistics to ensure maximum vehicle availability.
• Oversee the daily end-of-shift data logging process, managing onboard hardware, offloading system data to local edge hardware/cloud servers, and verifying transfer integrity for engineering analysis.
• Maintain site/shop floor readiness, test equipment, tooling, and sensor platforms to ensure a safe, clean, and efficient testing environment.

System Diagnostics & Technical Escalation

• Perform basic system diagnostics, guide operators through initial troubleshooting and perform/verify Over-The-Air software updates.
• Identify, isolate, and debug hardware, software, and sensor anomalies, creating detailed tickets (via Jira/issue-tracking systems) and escalating critical issues to cross-functional engineering teams.
• Compose clear, thorough, and concise post-drive reports, operational logs, and safety feedback to communicate system behavior and edge cases.

Must be able to work 1st Shift (6:00a - 2:30p)

Qualifications

• 2+ years of professional automotive driving, autonomous vehicle testing, or vehicle fleet operations, with demonstrated informal or formal experience coaching, mentoring, or training peers.
• Excellent interpersonal, coaching, written, and verbal communication skills; ability to deliver constructive feedback and explain complex technical concepts simply.
• Proven ability to maintain high focus while driving or monitoring autonomous systems (solo or with a partner) for 6–8 hours per day in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to lift, maneuver, and move up to 50 lbs and remain active across shop floors, proving grounds, or field testing sites.
• Willingness to travel up to 20% for off-site field testing campaigns and flexibility to work overtime, non-standard shifts, or weekends as testing schedules require.
• Proficiency with laptops, smartphones, and enterprise collaboration tools (Google Docs, Sheets, Maps).

Preferred / Bonus Qualifications

• Prior formal experience as a Driver Trainer, Lead Safety Driver, or Operations Lead in AV testing, proving grounds, or commercial fleet environments.
• Hands-on experience with Jira, Confluence, or equivalent engineering ticketing platforms.
• Familiarity with Linux/Unix navigation, embedded software flashing, CAN networks, and hardware/electrical diagnostics.
• Prior experience testing or supporting Level 4 autonomous driving systems.

Pay Disclosure

The hourly pay range for this role is $31.08 - $34.53/hour for Chicago, IL 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). There is no fixed deadline for this application; applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until the role is filled or the opening is no longer needed.