Sr. Engineering Technician, Electrical Prototypes

Rivian and VW Group Technology•Irvine, CA

3d•$33 - $55

About The Position

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between two industry leaders with a clear vision for automotive’s next chapter. From operating systems to zonal controllers to cloud and connectivity solutions, we’re addressing the challenges of electric vehicles through technology that will set the standards for software-defined vehicles around the world. The road to the future is uncharted. By combining our expertise across connectivity, AI, security and more, we’ll map a new way forward. Working together, we’ll create a future that’s more connected, more intelligent, more sustainable for everyone. Role Summary We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Electrical Prototyping Specialist who thrives in the high-stakes, ambiguous environment of a world-class joint venture. In this role, you will bridge the gap between design and reality by building, commissioning, and maintaining 'first-of-their-kind' wiring harnesses and HIL subsystem assets. As a centralized technical lead, you will resolve complex electrical bottlenecks through methodical root-cause diagnostics while serving as a primary advocate for collaborative problem-solving across the Rivian and VW Group development teams

Requirements

Expected to have electrical skillset by formal training and experience (or significant experience if no formal education- certifications do not contribute directly to this). These skills can be either electrical harness building, electrical device work, electrical diagnostics, or vehicle level electrical experience. Technicians must be specialized in two or more of these areas. Their areas of focus must be proficient to the point of requiring no supervision.
Within areas they are not experienced in, they may require moderate to minimal support from more senior team members in order to learn or perform these tasks.
Expected to be able to teach the areas they are proficient into technicians less seasoned in these areas (not mentorship necessarily)
Able to lead low to medium complexity (somewhat defined but technical program gaps expected/ first time builds) projects within team domains (up to a team of 2 technicians).
Can identify technical risks and escalate to on-team leadership to help resolve.
Expected to take first step in resolving gaps with requestors, may lean on leadership for support after first step.

Responsibilities

Wiring Harness Prototyping – You will interpret early prototype level pinouts, diagrams, or drawings to build “first of their kind” harnesses and electrical subsystems, then support subsequent debugging and design verification
Collaborate closely with all requesting teams for harness prototype work (First contact for Palo Alto requests, supporting role for Waterworks requests)
Evaluate initial request and clarify informational or technical gaps in the request
Build harnesses as requested
Test and ensure harnesses meet expectation of the requestor and the application
Vehicle Prototyping and Testing – You will support with building and planning of electrical vehicle-level updates, modifications, and testing equipment provisioning.
Collaborate closely with all requesting teams for harness prototype work (First contact for Palo Alto requests, supporting role for Waterworks requests)
Evaluate initial request and clarify informational or technical gaps in the request
Perform updates to the vehicle as requested
If larger project, may provide hands-on leadership to other team members supporting in the task (must remain deeply involved)
Remain in close communication with the requestor regarding project status, estimated date of completion, blockers, and areas where we require their support. (If project is large enough to need a PM, then collaborate with PM on ownership of these tasks)
Test and ensure update meets expectation of the requestor and the application
Perform and plan iterations as needed
Root Cause Challenging Issues – You will diagnose, and root cause a wide variety of electrical issues which arise from evolving development across harness, ECUs, and software.
Ability to join any electrical system level diagnostic issue at any point and any magnitude and lead the diagnostic effort by breaking the known issues down to a methodical and technically sound approach.
Execute on diagnostic approach outlined above and find the issue/s down to a specific wiring issue (incorrect pinout, incorrect wire size, etc), or isolate to a module or device level failure (CGM not functional).
Can assist more junior technicians on how to layout an approach to diagnostics as laid out in first bullet point
Drive System Issues to Resolution – You will exhibit the technical and leadership skills to drive resolutions from the root causes, by sharing information to relevant teams across the company.
Ability to root cause issue, document the issue in a method that is understandable and shareable to the relevant parties
Share information with relevant stakeholders and drivers and ensure they have all necessary technical information and context to drive a resolution on their side
Mentorship – You will train and mentor colleagues in areas of high aptitude and maintain an attitude of growing those around you.
Find opportunities to grow technicians on the team by teaching them your skillsets. Find opportunistic projects to pull technicians into to align with their interests, team interests, and project opportunity.
Provide close support to the technician in a constructive and collaborative way to build their skillset while maintaining committed delivery dates and quality on projects
Collaborative Problem Solving– You will work closely and collaborate with all relevant teams across the company to drive solutions.
Upon cross team technical or programmatic issues that arise, work across teams and organizations in a collaborative way to solve problems together.
Demonstrate supportive and creative problem solving regardless of “who’s job it is” to reach the best solution
Keep leadership on the team closely informed of support occurring outside of core areas (daily) in order to help prioritize tasks and cross team support as needed

Benefits

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26. Coverage is effective on the first day of employment, and Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies covers most of the premiums.

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