Staff Interior Trim Design & Release Engineer

Rivian • Irvine, CA

2d

About The Position

Rivian seeks a Staff Design & Release Engineer to conduct development and end-to-end engineering release for interior trim systems across the vehicle interior. The role serves as the design and release owner for interior trim components, integrating design intent, packaging, appearance, ergonomics, manufacturing feasibility, quality, cost, and timing into production-ready solutions.

The ideal candidate brings 7–10+ years of automotive or relevant product-development experience, strong knowledge of interior-trim systems, and the ability to develop complex work through ambiguity. This person partners across functions, applying first-principles problem-solving, sound engineering judgment, and clear communication to drive decisions and deliver high-quality products.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Product Design Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 7+ years (preferred) of experience in automotive engineering, vehicle interiors, trim systems, product development, or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience leading the design and release of automotive interior components or systems from concept through production.
• Strong understanding of interior-trim construction, materials, attachment strategies, tolerance stack-up, gap-and-flush, appearance requirements, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience with 3D CAD, engineering drawings, GD&T, change management, BOM structures, and product data-management systems.
• Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional engineering work and resolve competing requirements in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong first-principles problem-solving skills, including the ability to decompose ambiguous problems, identify root causes, and make technically sound decisions.
• Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with senior leaders, design teams, suppliers, and manufacturing partners.
• Demonstrated ownership, organization, and follow-through across multiple priorities and aggressive program timelines.

Nice To Haves

• An advanced degree.

Responsibilities

• Own design and release activities from early concept and package definition through detailed design, validation, tooling, production launch, and post-launch issue resolution.
• Develop and manage system-level requirements, interfaces, master sections, gap-and-flush strategy, attachment concepts, tolerances, material transitions, and assembly interfaces.
• Lead cross-functional alignment with Industrial Design, Packaging, Ergonomics, Body, BIW, Restraints, HVAC, Electrical, Manufacturing Engineering, Supplier Quality, Purchasing, Program Management, and other partner teams.
• Translate vehicle-level requirements and design intent into feasible, manufacturable, serviceable, and robust trim solutions.
• Drive issue resolution using first-principles engineering, structured problem solving, data, and clear trade-off analysis.
• Lead design reviews, technical working sessions, risk assessments, and decision-making forums; clearly communicate recommendations, risks, and required actions.
• Create and maintain engineering release deliverables, including CAD, drawings, specifications, GD&T, tolerance studies, BOMs, change documentation, and validation plans.
• Partner with suppliers and manufacturing teams to develop tooling, processes, assembly methods, and quality controls that meet Rivian requirements.
• Ensure designs meet targets for fit, finish, appearance, perceived quality, function, durability, safety, weight, cost, timing, and manufacturability.
• Support build events, prototype evaluations, vehicle-level integration, test activities, launch readiness, and root-cause analysis of production or field issues.
• Establish scalable engineering standards, best practices, and reusable design approaches for future interior-trim programs.
• Mentor engineers and influence technical direction without relying solely on formal authority.

Benefits

• Paid vacation
• Paid sick leave
• Life insurance
• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Short-term disability insurance
• Long-term disability insurance
• 401(k) Plan, subject to eligibility requirements
• Employee Stock Purchase Program, subject to eligibility requirements
• Annual performance bonus and equity awards may be available to the successful candidate.

What This Job Offers

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