Vehicle Operator II, Autonomy Systems Validation (2nd Shift)

Rivian•Miami, FL

About The Position

The Vehicle Operator II plays a hands-on operational and instructional role in testing, safety validation, and ground support for Autonomy Systems Validation. Reporting to the Operations Coordinator, the role bridges field-testing drivers with ground logistics and facilities. The operator drives prototype vehicles on public roads and private test tracks, serves as the on-shift floor lead and driver trainer, and oversees vehicle preparation, ground support, data offloading, pre- and post-trip operations, and shift handovers. The role also supports onboarding and coaching vehicle operators to maintain safety and testing standards. The position involves operating prototype vehicles in autonomous, semi-autonomous, and manual modes; supporting fleet and site readiness; conducting basic diagnostics and troubleshooting; and documenting and escalating system anomalies. The stated shift is 4:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. The role is based in Miami, Florida for the disclosed pay range, and may require travel for off-site testing.

Requirements

At least 2 years of professional automotive driving, autonomous vehicle testing, or vehicle fleet operations experience.
Demonstrated formal or informal experience coaching, mentoring, or training peers.
Strong interpersonal, coaching, written, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to provide constructive feedback and explain technical concepts clearly.
Ability to maintain focus while driving or monitoring autonomous systems for 6–8 hours per day in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to lift, maneuver, and move up to 50 pounds and remain active across shop floors, proving grounds, or field-testing sites.
Willingness to travel up to 20% for off-site field-testing campaigns.
Flexibility to work overtime, non-standard shifts, or weekends as testing schedules require.
Proficiency with laptops, smartphones, and enterprise collaboration tools such as Google Docs, Sheets, and Maps.

Nice To Haves

Formal experience as a Driver Trainer, Lead Safety Driver, or Operations Lead in AV testing, proving grounds, or commercial fleet environments.
Hands-on experience with Jira, Confluence, or equivalent engineering ticketing platforms.
Familiarity with Linux/Unix navigation, embedded software flashing, CAN networks, and hardware or electrical diagnostics.
Prior experience testing or supporting Level 4 autonomous driving systems.

Responsibilities

Assist the Operations Coordinator with training materials, onboarding programs, and hands-on driving and safety instruction for new vehicle operators.
Evaluate operator performance and provide coaching on disengagement protocols, defensive driving, test procedures, and safety standards.
Guide operators on workflows, logging procedures, software flashing, and vehicle preparation.
Serve as the on-shift floor contact for driver questions and encourage continuous learning, psychological safety, and open feedback.
Operate prototype vehicles in autonomous, semi-autonomous, and manual modes across varied weather, traffic, and road conditions for up to eight hours daily.
Maintain situational awareness and perform manual disengagements and safety interventions when needed.
Execute predefined test cases, specialized driving scenarios, and edge-case evaluations on public roads and closed-course test facilities.
Assist with shift handovers, driver readiness, route assignments, and vehicle allocations.
Conduct and supervise pre-trip and post-trip inspections, basic system checks, hardware setups, and sensor calibrations or cleanings.
Track vehicle health, coordinate maintenance or repair appointments with service technicians, and manage fleet charging.
Oversee end-of-shift data logging, manage onboard hardware, offload system data to local edge hardware or cloud servers, and verify transfer integrity.
Maintain site and shop-floor readiness, test equipment, tooling, and sensor platforms.
Perform basic system diagnostics, guide initial troubleshooting, and perform or verify over-the-air software updates.
Identify and investigate hardware, software, and sensor anomalies; create detailed tickets using Jira or issue-tracking systems; and escalate critical issues to engineering teams.
Prepare post-drive reports, operational logs, and safety feedback describing system behavior and edge cases.