Sr. Manager Durability CAE

Rivian•Irvine, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a highly technical and experienced Senior Manager, Durability CAE to spearhead our structural simulation department. In this pivotal leadership role, you will direct a multidisciplinary engineering team performing high-fidelity CAE across Explicit Dynamics (e.g., high-energy chassis impacts, underbody strikes) and the Implicit Domain (e.g., static strength, fatigue, vibration). As the technical anchor for virtual structural sign-offs, you will ensure our vehicle architectures achieve world-class durability and safety standards long before the first physical prototype is built. The ideal candidate brings a "master-level" background in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and a proven track record of scaling high-performing teams within an OEM or high-growth EV environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Automotive Engineering (Master’s or Ph.D. strongly preferred).
10+ years in automotive CAE, including 3–5 years in a formal leadership or managerial role.
Advanced proficiency in LS-DYNA (Explicit) and Abaqus, Nastran, or OptiStruct (Implicit). Understanding of multi-body dynamics and experience is a plus.
Deep expertise in fatigue life prediction software (e.g., nCode DesignLife or FEMFAT) and the durability of metal joining methods.
Expert-level command of pre/post-processing tools such as ANSA, HyperMesh, HyperView, or Meta/Post.
Ability to translate complex technical data into high-level insights that drive rapid, multi-domain design decisions.

Nice To Haves

Understanding of multi-body dynamics and experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Virtual Validation Authority: Lead the structural durability and fatigue sign-offs for all critical systems, including Body-in-White (BIW), chassis, frames, and EV-specific battery structures.
Advanced Simulation Management: Oversee complex, full-vehicle explicit simulations—including sand dune impacts, rock scrapes, and lateral curb strikes—while ensuring numerical stability through rigorous analysis of energy plots and mass scaling.
Methodology Innovation: Drive the development of next-generation CAE workflows, focusing on advanced material failure modeling, in-house fatigue S-N curve generation, and the integration of AI/Machine Learning for automation.
Test-to-Simulation Correlation: Lead correlation efforts using data from proving grounds and lab-based test rigs to ensure virtual models achieve high-fidelity replication of real-world physics.
Mentorship & Directing: Lead and grow a large team of CAE engineers, providing deep technical coaching and defining professional development pathways.
Resource & Budget Strategy: Manage manpower allocation, project timelines, and software budgets to align CAE deliverables with aggressive vehicle program milestones.
Cross-Functional Synergy: Partner closely with Design, Physical Testing, Materials, and Program teams to ensure structural integrity is prioritized during the earliest architectural phases.
Quality & Standards: Establish robust simulation and reporting standards to ensure all technical presentations provide clear, actionable design recommendations to executive stakeholders.