About RivianRivian 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.
Role SummaryIn this position, you will use CAE tools to drive solutions for Cockpit system components & Interior system components performing under airbag deployment loads. You will ensure these components meet all government and Rivian internal requirements for Safety/ Durability/ NVH/ & Perceived Quality. Collaboration with cross-functional teams will be essential to find optimal solutions that satisfy all Interior system requirements and company goals. This is a fully onsite role based at our engineering Headquarters in Irvine California.
Responsibilities- Lead subsystem level Safety, Durability, & NVH CAE analysis of Cockpit & Interior Trim subsystems of Rivian's vehicles including but not limited to: Linear, Non-Linear, Static, Dynamic, NVH, Fatigue, and abuse load analysis. These will include airbag deployments, knee impact loads, cold impact, ingress-egress loads etc .
- Develop and execute analysis plans to analyze and optimize Interior Cockpit subsystems & Interior Trims including Cross-car beam, Instrument Panel, Interior Trim pillars, & Over Head Systems. Utilize CAE tools to ensure subsystem-level performance meets safety, durability, NVH, and other attribute targets, while also supporting optimal resource utilization plans.
- Lead 1-2 concurrent CAE-intensive projects, each involving small cross-functional teams of 3-5 people. These teams may include Design Engineers, Material Engineers, Supplier Engineers (onsite & offshore), and Attributes team members. Ensure the timely delivery of high-quality simulation results and their effective utilization to drive design development in a fast-paced program cycle.
- Capture the joints, clips, snaps, surface welds, multi-stage connections, hard point definitions, and boundary conditions according to the Cockpit and Interior Trim system simulation standards and requirements. Employ appropriate model build requirements for safety, NVH, durability, and airbag deployment analysis of those components.
- Predict and improve the subsystem level performance of those components especially to meet the regulatory requirements like FMVSS 208 & FMVSS 226.
- Demonstrate good understanding of the airbag interactions to identify potential issues and develop countermeasure solutions.
- Collaborate closely with respective Engineering, Subject Matter Experts, & Attributes teams to define the modelcontents, loads, boundary conditions, & performance targets.
- Utilize advanced techniques in Ls-Dyna, Abaqus, & Optistruct for appropriate simulation of the system behavior under various conditions.
- Collaborate with the material suppliers to collect the CAE material models and check for their applicability for Cockpit & Interior Trim simulations.
- Explain the failure modes through animations/ stress contours/ strain energy plots and devise countermeasures to address those identified failure modes while zooming out to consider other system requirements such as DFM/ DFA/ Durability/ safety/ NVH/ PQ etc.
- Explain analysis assumptions and the basis of countermeasures using first principles. Demonstrate to Design Engineers on how to apply these principles to achieve robust design development.
- Develop new analytical methods and subsystem level virtual validation procedures while implementing automation techniques and employing AI tools. These procedures should lead to highly predictive simulation models that correlate well with physical tests at the material, component, and subsystem levels. This will reduce the number of physical tests as well as CAE iterations.
- Follow and proactively improve/ maintain documentation for Best Practices, Design Standards, Test Procedures, and Technical Specifications.
Qualifications- BS in Engineering with 8+ years of experience in Automotive CAE with demonstrated success. MS in Engineering with 4+ years of relevant experience.
- Proven ability to perform automotive Cockpit and Interior Trim analysis using Ls-Dyna, ABAQUS, & Optistruct. Familiarity with other analysis tools such as ANSYS as well as CAD tools like Catia Design Experience.
- Strong understanding of safety regulations such as FMVSS, ECE, NCAP, IIHS, Euro NCAP, and China NCAP. Experience developing efficient countermeasures for any one of the automotive interior and exterior systems to meet these requirements
- Ability to communicate clearly with a broad audience through verbal and written methods to facilitate collaboration and drive project success.
- A deep passion and commitment to continuous improvement and innovation, along with the courage to ask for help when facing challenges.
Pay DisclosureThe salary range for this role is $107,800 - $134,800 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.
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.
Equal OpportunityRivian 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
Candidate Data PrivacyRivian 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. 
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