Sr. Mechanical Design Engineer, ECU

Rivian•Palo Alto, CA

19h

About The Position

Rivian is seeking a highly motivated, experienced, multidisciplinary mechanical engineer to develop electronic hardware components and help advance the company’s electric vehicle technology. The role focuses on mechanical development of electronic control units (ECUs), including next-generation internal compute, and works with domain teams, mechanical architecture, electrical engineering, and computer-aided engineering (CAE) partners to define requirements and optimize integration for performance, manufacturing, and service. The engineer develops and validates PCB, enclosure, and thermal-management designs; produces component drawings and tolerance analyses; and supports thermal and finite element analysis (FEA) studies. The position also develops component mechanical functional requirements and design verification plans for custom, semi-custom, and off-the-shelf components, aiming to deliver low-mass, low-cost, durable parts and modules for vehicle programs. Other duties may be assigned within the scope of the position.

Requirements

At least 3 years of industry experience in automotive or other industries.
Bachelor of Science degree or above in mechanical engineering, or relevant equivalent experience.
Experience designing components and/or systems involving mechanism design, thermal design, PCB integration, sensor integration, UI/UX considerations, and Class A surface integration.
Experience leading cross-functional teams to innovate and drive new ideas and solutions into products.
Experience leading the design of components and/or systems that include PCB design, thermal design, and PCB integration.
Proficient CAD design skills; Catia V5, V6, or 3DX is preferred, though equivalent systems are considered.
Strong problem-solving and communication skills.
Ability to lead component drawing creation, including GD&T to ASME Y14.5 standards, in support of tolerance analyses.
Ability to identify optimization opportunities from CAE and testing results.
Experience with manufacturing methods such as sheet metal brake-press and stamping, injection-molded plastic, cast metals, CNC machining, and 3D printing.
Experience in EV vehicle systems, automotive design and manufacturing practices, and low-voltage electrical-system integration; direct experience is preferred.
Experience leading DFMEA processes and execution.

Nice To Haves

Experience in autonomy; priority is given to experience in sensor-cleaning development.
Advanced surfacing and solid-modeling expertise, along with strong CAD structure and organizational skills.
Direct experience with EV vehicle systems, automotive design and manufacturing practices, and low-voltage electrical-system integration.

Responsibilities

Support mechanical development of ECUs and next-generation internal compute.
Partner with domain teams and the mechanical architecture team to define mechanical component requirements and conduct trade studies to optimize integration for performance, manufacturing, and service.
Develop PCB MCOs, enclosure designs, and thermal-management designs, working with electrical engineers and the CAE group to evaluate and validate designs.
Create component drawings and conduct tolerance-analysis studies, documenting designs and the design process.
Support thermal and FEA studies to optimize vehicle component designs.
Use first principles, critical thinking, and scientific engineering methodologies to identify and solve issues.
Develop and document component mechanical functional requirements based on product requirements for custom, semi-custom, and off-the-shelf components.
Complete component design verification plans to deliver low-mass, low-cost, durable parts and modules to vehicle programs.
Lead cross-functional teams to innovate and drive new ideas and solutions into products.
Lead problem solving for electrical-system challenges, including grounding, thermal, and structural challenges.
Lead component drawing creation, including GD&T to ASME Y14.5 standards, to support applicable tolerance analyses.
Identify optimization opportunities based on CAE and testing results.
Lead DFMEA processes and execution.
Perform other duties as required or assigned within the scope of the position.