Reliability Engineer

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies • Irvine, CA

3d • $107,000 - $147,050

About The Position

As a Reliability Engineer for the Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies joint venture, you will help develop next-generation low-voltage electric architectures and guide ECU designs to meet vehicle mission and reliability targets. The role focuses on Design-for-Reliability (DfR) for low-voltage electronics across vehicle control, connected-car, and self-driving systems, from concept through production.

You will serve as a DfR expert for hardware design and architecture teams, developing reliability guidance, validation strategies, specifications, and testing methods. You will investigate failures, work with engineering teams and suppliers on corrective actions, assess manufacturing implementation, and use fleet and field data to identify emerging risks and improve future ECU design standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in an engineering discipline or equivalent.
• Technical understanding of PCBA, electronics, or control systems, including failure modes, reliability specification development, design guidelines, electronics thermal management, and interconnects.
• Understanding of the FMEA process (DFMEA/PFMEA) and willingness to facilitate FMEAs and lead cross-functional teams.
• Working knowledge of a coding language, preferably Python.
• Working knowledge of statistical software for reliability, such as JMP or the ReliaSoft suite, including Weibull analysis.
• Understanding of Highly Accelerated Testing methods and the governing equations for different failure mechanisms.

Nice To Haves

• Expertise in accelerated-life-test development methods.
• Working knowledge of failure analysis techniques such as optical microscopy, SEM, CT, X-Ray, EDS, and TDR.

Responsibilities

• Drive product reliability for vehicle control, connected-car, and self-driving systems from concept through production.
• Serve as the primary Design-for-Reliability expert for hardware design and architecture teams.
• Establish design guidelines, identify electronic failure modes, and define standard countermeasures.
• Develop validation strategies, physics-of-failure-based reliability specifications, and accelerated testing methods.
• Lead root-cause failure investigations and collaborate with internal engineering teams, suppliers, and failure analysis laboratories to define and verify corrective actions.
• Audit Contract Manufacturers on-site during development phases to ensure DFMEA and PFMEA recommendations are implemented.
• Analyze fleet and field data to detect emerging risks and inform design standards for future ECU programs.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary.
• Eligibility for an annual company performance bonus program for full-time positions; payments are discretionary and not guaranteed.
• Eligibility for equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), subject to board approval and plan terms.
• Comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, including health coverage, retirement savings, time off, and family planning programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time