Lead Cost Engineer

Rivian•Plymouth, MI

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Rivian Supply Chain team is looking for strategic technical leaders to drive the financial health of our vehicle programs. As a Lead Cost Engineer, you are an advanced individual contributor and subject matter expert serving as the primary authority for complex commodities and systems. You act autonomously to evaluate strategic cost trade-offs, develop high-level business cases, and influence engineering and purchasing strategies at a systemic level. In this role, you lead system-level analysis and partner with cross-functional leadership to drive organizational change through technical expertise. You are responsible for solving complex challenges, mentoring junior engineers, and providing the "big picture" financial insights necessary to guide major business decisions. We are looking for an expert who can articulate the financial health of an entire portfolio to executive leadership while advocating for the team’s strategic goals. This position is based on site in Plymouth, MI and reports to the Manager, Cost Engineering Interior, Thermal, Powertrain, & Adventure Products.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field and a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience.
Evaluates complex cost trade-offs, develops business cases for design changes, and uses financial data to actively influence sourcing and engineering strategies.
Commodity-Specific Cost Estimation Experience: Powertrain - gears, mechanical/electrical components & assembly
Commodity-Specific Cost Estimation Experience: Restraints - develop new cost models, mechanical/electrical components & assembly
Commodity-Specific Cost Estimation Experience: Interior - assembly models development - seat JIT, instrument panel, console
Commodity-Specific Cost Estimation Experience: Manufacturing processes (castings, forging, broaching, powder metal, stamping, plastic injection molding, rubber molding, surface finishes)
Acts as the primary technical mentor, providing expert-level training on all cost engineering tools and autonomously customizing modeling tools.
Defines and models how the Cost Engineering team communicates its value.
Reaches beyond their defined scope to solve problems and implements systemic changes and improvements internal and external to their function.
Consistently leads with first principles to identify and implement systemic changes and high-impact outcomes.

Nice To Haves

Ability and willingness to travel as needed based on business needs, expected to average between 10 - 15 % .

Responsibilities

Serves as the primary authority for assigned commodities, possessing deep knowledge covering strategic implications of cost drivers, manufacturing processes, and market trends.
Articulates the overall financial health, risks, and strategic opportunities of a portfolio of parts to a wider, non-expert audience.
Expert in deconstructing highly complex assemblies and applying first principles to validate data and strategically influence business decisions.
Serves as the go-to person for cost information and influences stakeholders by building a compelling narrative and data-driven business case.
Acts instinctively to manage and effectively prioritize a complex workload with little manager input while persevering in the face of setbacks.