Sr. Staff Recruiter, Autonomy

Rivian • Irvine, CA

11d

About The Position

Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract.
As a company, we constantly challenge what’s possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations.

As a Sr Staff Recruiter for Autonomy, you will be a key talent engine behind one of Rivian’s most critical technical verticals. This is a high‑impact senior individual contributor role for a recruiter who combines deep technical fluency, a consultant’s mindset, and the ability to navigate highly competitive AI and Machine Learning talent markets.
You will partner directly with Autonomy leaders to design and execute a hiring strategy that raises the bar for talent density across the organization. You aren’t just filling roles; you are helping architect the teams that will define the future of self‑driving technology at Rivian.

Why this role matters
Directly elevates the talent bar for Autonomy by landing senior ICs who unlock our long‑term roadmap.
Impacts Rivian’s ability to deliver safe, scalable self‑driving capabilities to customers.
Shapes how we compete for top AI/ML talent in one of the most competitive markets globally.

Requirements

• 8+ years of full‑cycle technical recruiting experience, with 3+ years focused on AI, Machine Learning, Autonomy, Robotics, or closely related deep‑tech domains.
• Demonstrated domain fluency across the AI/ML ecosystem, including familiarity with:
• Common frameworks and tooling (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow).
• Specialized hardware (e.g., GPUs, TPUs, accelerators).
• Distinctions between ML Infrastructure, Data/Platform, and Perception/Planning/Controls roles.
• Proven ability to hire Senior and Staff‑level engineers in highly competitive markets, including building and closing complex multi-offer situations.
• Strong data literacy, with experience using recruiting metrics and dashboards to diagnose funnel health, influence stakeholders, and iterate on process and bar.
• Demonstrated ability to operate in ambiguity, manage competing priorities across multiple searches, and execute with urgency in a fast‑moving environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the capacity to translate complex technical work into compelling candidate narratives and clear hiring recommendations.
• Track record of building inclusive, structured interview processes that reduce bias and result in diverse, high‑performing teams.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.

Nice To Haves

• Proven track record of successfully hiring Senior, Staff, Principal, and Distinguished‑level engineers in highly competitive AI/ML or Robotics markets.
• Experience influencing VP‑ and Director‑level stakeholders, including driving improvements in hiring standards, interview design, calibration practices, and talent strategy.
• Experience recruiting for Autonomous Vehicles, Robotics, Advanced Perception, Planning, Mapping/Localization, or large‑scale ML infrastructure teams.
• Background in high‑growth or frontier tech environments (e.g., EV, AV, deep tech, large‑scale AI platforms) where priorities and org structures evolve rapidly.
• Demonstrated ability to build from scratch—including recruiting processes, interview loops, calibration frameworks, and market maps for new technical domains or locations.
• Genuine curiosity for AI research, autonomy advances, and emerging tooling, including regularly following key conferences, publications, and practitioner communities.

Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted advisor to Autonomy leaders, translating business and product roadmaps into clear hiring plans across Senior and Staff engineering roles, with exposure to Principal‑level searches as needed.
• Run structured intake and calibration sessions that clarify role scope, success profiles, and interview focus areas, ensuring alignment on bar and trade‑offs before launching searches.
• Provide real‑time market intelligence on AI/ML and Robotics talent trends, compensation dynamics, and geo strategies to inform headcount planning and leveling decisions.
• Own end‑to‑end recruiting for prioritized Autonomy roles—from sourcing strategy and outreach through offer negotiation and close.
• Build targeted sourcing campaigns for highly specialized profiles (e.g., ML Infrastructure, Perception, Planning/Controls, Localization), mixing outbound, referrals, events, and talent communities.
• Drive a differentiated candidate experience that reflects Rivian’s values, including high‑touch communication, thoughtful storytelling, and transparent expectation setting.
• Partner with hiring managers to assess and calibrate consistently, ensuring that every hire meets or exceeds the agreed seniority and impact expectations.
• Identify and remove “process debt” in Autonomy recruiting—simplifying workflows, eliminating friction, and shortening time‑to‑hire without compromising bar.
• Use data from our ATS and recruiting tools to diagnose funnel health, highlight bottlenecks, and recommend specific changes to interview loops, sourcing mix, or leveling assumptions.
• Pilot and adopt AI‑assisted recruiting tools (e.g., for sourcing, screening, scheduling, and insights) in alignment with Rivian’s standards for data security and candidate privacy.
• Build and maintain long‑term pipelines of Senior and Staff engineering talent from top research labs, academia, industry leaders, and emerging talent hubs.
• Develop market maps and competitive intelligence for Autonomy talent across key regions, keeping an active pulse on companies, teams, and communities aligned to our hiring needs.
• Engage passive candidates through long‑horizon relationship building, events, and content that authentically reflects Rivian’s mission and Autonomy vision.
• Collaborate with People Partners, Compensation, Finance, and Talent Operations to align hiring with headcount plans, leveling guidance, and compensation frameworks.
• Partner with Recruiting Operations to refine interview design, scoring rubrics, and decision forums for Autonomy roles.
• Share best practices and mentor other recruiters, contributing to a culture of craft excellence, continuous learning, and inclusion across the broader TA team.

Benefits

• The successful candidate may be eligible for an annual performance bonus and equity awards.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26, including but not limited to paid vacation, paid sick leave, and a competitive portfolio of insurance benefits, including life, medical, dental, vision, short-term disability insurance, and long-term disability insurance to eligible employees. You may also have the opportunity to participate in Rivian’s 401(k) Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program if you meet certain eligibility requirements. Full-time employee coverage is effective on their first day of employment. Part-time employee coverage is effective on the first of the month following 90 days of employment. More information about benefits is available at rivianbenefits.com.

What This Job Offers

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