Lead Supplier Development, Industrialization & Quality Engineer - Body & Battery Structures

Rivian•Plymouth, MI

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Rivian’s Supply Chain team is seeking a strategic technical leader to drive quality and reliability across vehicle programs. This advanced individual-contributor and subject-matter-expert role owns the supplier quality lifecycle, from initial sourcing through ongoing business management, with direct responsibility for critical, high-risk suppliers and seamless production ramps. The role leads complex manufacturing problem resolution, identifies and mitigates high-impact risks, mentors others, and provides expert analysis that informs sourcing and design decisions. It also drives supplier accountability at the executive level and advocates for team needs in major program reviews. The position is based onsite in Plymouth, Michigan, requires regular primarily domestic travel averaging 50–75%, and reports to the Sr. Manager - Supplier Development, Industrialization & Quality. The salary range for applicants based in Plymouth, MI is $114,100–$142,600. The successful candidate may be eligible for annual performance bonuses and equity awards.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
At least 6 years of relevant supplier development experience.
Full understanding of the end-to-end procurement lifecycle.
Experience managing high-risk supplier portfolios.
Experience with cold/hot stamping, sheet-metal forming, fixture-based assembly, MIG welding, robotic welding, manual welding, e-coat interfaces, and final assembly processes.
Ability to evaluate fixture datum strategies, clamping, weld-gun access, poka-yoke, dimensional capability, and repeatability.
Ability to drive controls for weld defects and other issues, including dimensional variation, distortion, missing welds, spatter, undercut, porosity, burn-through, and rework.
Ability to interpret information, facilitate productive conversations, and gain buy-in for a clear vision.
Ability to operate with minimal manager input, hold suppliers and cross-functional teams accountable, and solve problems beyond defined scope in high-pressure situations.
Ability to meet the regular primarily domestic travel requirement of 50–75%.

Responsibilities

Own the complete supplier quality lifecycle, from initial sourcing through ongoing business management, to support seamless production ramps.
Manage critical CL0 and CL1 suppliers and resolve failures to mitigate risks and delays.
Break down complex problems and datasets to produce meaningful, actionable results.
Apply robust problem-solving tools to address systemic issues across the supply base.
Lead high-complexity APQP/PPAP projects that affect major program milestones.
Optimize supplier quality KPIs to predict and prevent future failures while aligning project work with long-term goals.
Advise program leadership and present and defend strategic recommendations in high-stakes forums.
Drive systemic cross-functional change, using first principles to influence adoption of new processes.
Operate with minimal manager input and hold suppliers and cross-functional teams accountable for performance.
Manage and prioritize complex workloads in high-pressure situations.
Own the business case and execution for significant process-improvement initiatives.
Provide analysis and recommendations that influence critical sourcing decisions and capital investments.
Travel regularly, primarily domestically, averaging 50–75%.