Sr. Autonomy Data Collection and Prototyping, Vehicle Build and Bring Up Engineer

Rivian•Palo Alto, CA

About The Position

As the Data Collection & Prototyping: Vehicle Build and Bring Up Engineer, you are the bridge between design engineering and the physical fleet. Your mission is to ensure that every vehicle or test rig in our prototyping facility achieves a successful Hardware and Software Bring-Up as we scale our operations. You aren't just building a vehicle; you are building the process that builds the vehicle. You will design the automation, electrical checks, and diagnostic workflows that enable our operations team to deploy state of the art autonomy stacks with high confidence. Crucially, you ensure that every build is executed to a standard where data integrity enables downstream Data Science and ML consumers. You are responsible for the "technical handoff"—translating complex engineering requirements into robust, repeatable processes that empower operators to execute.

Requirements

B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field.
3+ years of relevant experience in a prototyping or manufacturing environment, with a proven track record of scaling new, complex products through their early-stage lifecycle.
A background in Industrial or Systems Engineering with a passion for designing automated build sequences and "Standard Work" (SOPs). Ability to architect the “Logical Flow” of a build—ensuring hardware dependencies, software prerequisites, and validation steps are executed in the correct industrial sequence to optimize workflows and guarantee data integrity. You take pride in creating “Golden Build” processes that enable operations teams to successfully execute complex tasks through clear technical translation.
High proficiency with ISO 14229 (UDS), DoIP (ISO 13400), and DoCAN (ISO 15765). Specific experience authoring Service RoutineControl sequences to automate hardware procedures and safety checks.
Expert-level proficiency in Python or Bash to streamline and automate repetitive workflows. Leverages modern AI-assisted engineering tools (LLMs/Agentic workflows) to accelerate the development of robust, repeatable scripts, ensuring that any recurring bring-up or validation task is transformed into a high-reliability automated process to maximize efficiency and eliminate manual error.
Hands-on experience with automotive test execution environments like Vector CANoe/CANalyzer (CAPL), NI TestStand, or custom Python-based diagnostic frameworks (e.g., udsoncan, python-can).
Strong knowledge of vehicle network architecture (Automotive Ethernet, CAN/CAN-FD, TCP/IP, UDP) and the ability to perform deep-dive debugging on high-speed data links.
Experience with Linux-based system administration, shell scripting, and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) validation to ensure software stack integrity.
You are as comfortable in a terminal as you are with a multimeter, oscilloscope, or crimping tool. You have a passion for being physically present at the "Gemba" (the shop floor) to solve first-of-kind hardware issues and manage hardware upfits.

Responsibilities

Lead the transition of complex build tasks from engineering-only execution to operator-led processes. You are responsible for creating the work procedures, intuitive tooling, and documentation that allow the wider operations team to take on high-level tasks with zero loss in quality.
Apply Industrial and Process Systems principles to identify bottlenecks in the "Build -> Upfit -> Flash -> Test" cycle, engineering solutions to reduce cycle time while maintaining build integrity.
Own the end-to-end success of HW/SW bring-up for the Data Collection fleet. This includes firmware flashing, sensor calibration, and network verification (Ethernet/CAN) to ensure the full autonomy data collection suite is "mission-ready."
Validate that every build meets the rigorous data-logging standards required by downstream consumers. You are responsible for ensuring that sensor mounts, time-sync protocols, and logging configurations are correct to prevent data corruption or bias.
Lead the physical integration and modification of base vehicles into data collection platforms. Oversee the deployment of hardware releases across the prototype fleet, acting as the primary technical lead for "Day 0" deployments.
Develop and implement EOL testing tools specifically for the prototyping environment. This includes authoring custom UDS RoutineControl sequences to automate electrical quality checks and service diagnostics.
Act as the technical lead for the shop floor. Create the tools and documentation that enable technicians to take on high-level tasks, ensuring clear