Sr. Simulation Engineer, Factory Design

Rivian • Normal, IL

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Factory Design & Simulation team translates industrial strategy into optimized value streams to support production of Rivian electric vehicles at scale. As part of Digital Manufacturing Engineering & Automation, the team creates standardized tools and processes for throughput and material-flow simulations and ensures that overall factory designs meet production objectives.

In this collaborative role, the Sr. Simulation Engineer uses discrete event simulation (DES) to guide factory design from early concepts through full operation. Working with industrial strategy, vertical, and integration teams, the engineer defines throughput architecture, establishes buffer requirements, and develops DES standards so system designs achieve required production rates. The role includes running simulations throughout the design process, identifying bottlenecks during production ramp-up, and validating models against actual production.

The position requires a strong understanding of Manufacturing Engineering principles and simulation modeling. The successful candidate approaches complex problems from first principles, is driven to optimize designs, and can think at a systems level to build models that guide factory design outcomes. The role is based at Rivian’s Normal, Illinois facility or Plymouth, Michigan, and relocation is mandatory. It reports directly to a Manager, Manufacturing Engineering.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering, or Computer Science.
• At least 5 years of experience in industrial or manufacturing engineering, focused on applying discrete event simulation to improve process efficiency.
• Extremely proficient with discrete-event simulation tools.
• Familiarity with creating new features and modules within discrete event simulation platforms using FlexScript, Simtalk, C++, and/or Python.
• Knowledge of statistics, uncertainty, and sensitivity analysis.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills, including the ability to manage several projects simultaneously in a highly variable and uncertain environment.
• A track record of quantitatively resolving ambiguous, systems-level problems.
• Effective written and verbal communication at all organizational levels.
• Positive attitude and strong work ethic aligned with Rivian’s mission and compass values.
• Relocation to the Normal, Illinois facility or Plymouth, Michigan is mandatory.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in General Assembly or Paint shop.
• Proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets and data visualization or analysis tools such as Tableau or SQL.
• Experience working with layout designs in AutoCAD.

Responsibilities

• Build discrete event simulation models for manufacturing and logistics processes, including Body, Paint, Drive Unit, Battery, General Assembly, and Supply Chain.
• Manage multiple integrators and integrate their deliverables into shop and factory models.
• Develop decision-making frameworks with quantifiable tradeoffs for entire factories or individual manufacturing processes.
• Optimize plant layouts by analyzing throughput capabilities, bottlenecks, buffer sizing, and material routing.
• Collaborate with the Automation & Controls team to collect real-world data, incorporate it into models, validate models, and suggest improvements.
• Develop and sustain digital twin models to test and validate manufacturing system designs.
• Co-develop discrete event simulation standards, including a library of simulation assets with properties and performance characteristics.

Benefits

• Paid vacation.
• Paid sick leave.
• Competitive portfolio of insurance benefits, including life, medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance, subject to eligibility.
• Opportunity to participate in Rivian’s 401(k) Plan, subject to eligibility.
• Employee Stock Purchase Program, subject to eligibility.
• Potential eligibility for annual performance bonus and equity awards.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior