Manager, Manufacturing Engineering (Battery Pack)

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.

Rivian is on a mission to redefine sustainable transportation and energy. We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Manager of Battery Manufacturing Engineering to lead extended equipment, automation, and process development and implementation projects for our innovative battery pack manufacturing lines. As a Manager in our battery manufacturing engineering department, you will have the opportunity to shape the future of our production capabilities, driving efficiency, quality, and scalability in a critical area of our growth. You will lead a team of engineers and play a pivotal role in ensuring the successful launch and ongoing operation of our overall module process. This role is located at our Normal, IL or Irvine, CA facility and reports directly to a Sr. Manager, Manufacturing Engineering.

• Team Leadership and Management: Lead and manage a team of 3-8 Manufacturing Engineers focused on battery module line equipment, automation, and process projects from initial concept through full-scale production. Define individual contributor roles and responsibilities to ensure team success.
• Project Execution: Accountable for the successful project execution of assigned projects, measured in terms of cost, safety, performance, and delivery schedule.
• Technical Business Acumen: Bridge technical needs and business justification by translating complex technical requirements into clear and compelling business cases for investment and resource allocation.
• Process Innovation: Develop and implement innovative mechanical and controls techniques to establish new methods for assembling, joining, and testing unique assemblies to meet capacitive and voltage requirements of the battery module or pack.
• Compliance and Safety: Ensure all equipment and processes comply with relevant safety standards, company policies, and applicable regulations and codes.
• Vendor Management: Develop equipment and process specifications, evaluate vendor capabilities, and provide data-driven sourcing recommendations.
• Design for Manufacturing (DFM): Provide in-depth Design for Manufacturing (DFM) feedback to the Product Engineering team to optimize designs for efficient, robust, and high-quality assembly processes.
• Problem Solving: Solve complex technical problems using fundamental engineering principles and data-driven methodologies.
• Technology Advancement: Lead research and development efforts for new manufacturing technologies that address assembly and automation challenges within the battery module production.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Partner effectively with cross-functional teams (e.g., Product Engineering, Quality, Production) and manage expectations to ensure stakeholder engagement and successful delivery of engineering solutions. Build strong working relationships with partner organizations to facilitate quick issue resolution.
• Standards and Best Practices: Develop and maintain manufacturing engineering standards and best practices to ensure consistent and efficient operations.
• Strategic Planning: Strategically look ahead to define and drive strong quarterly goals that extend beyond immediate program needs, and develop detailed week-to-week plans to ensure the team is aligned and focused on achieving these goals.
• Program Focus: Maintain a strong focus on program success, proactively identifying and addressing potential roadblocks to ensure on-time and high-quality delivery.
• Headcount Planning: Plan for future headcount needs within the next year to support the growth and evolution of the battery module manufacturing team.
• Team Coordination: Coordinate activities within your team to ensure successful execution in your focus area, with a clear understanding of individual contributor roles and responsibilities.
• Feedback and Coaching: Actively participate in quarterly recharge conversations, providing timely and constructive feedback to team members.
• Team Development: Directly lead, mentor, and develop a team of engineers, fostering an environment where individuals can grow their technical and professional skills. Develop the ability to recognize and propose plans for enhancing overall team competence by identifying skill gaps and developing strategies to address them.
• Data Analytics: Have basic understanding and knowledge of transforming data sets into useful dashboards that can be used to track process metrics and/or root cause analysis. Drive data mindset across the team to ensure decisions are based on process performance.

• BS/ in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or a related technical field.
• 7+ years of hands-on experience in an automated manufacturing environment, including building and troubleshooting automation systems and acquiring experimental data.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively under pressure, manage competing demands, and meet tight deadlines across multiple simultaneous projects.
• Proven success in planning and project managing the installation of equipment or facilities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated aptitude for quickly learning new systems and technologies.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to effectively communicate with direct reports and peers within a manufacturing and engineering organization. Ability to quickly align small teams (< 10 people) around action plans and status updates.
• Strong attention to detail with excellent record-keeping and organizational skills.
• Experience in complex electro-mechanical system design.
• Experience transitioning automated systems from prototype to production. 1
• Proficiency in 2D & 3D CAD software (e.g., AutoCAD, Solidworks, Catia).
• Ability to travel both domestically and internationally as required.

The salary range for this role is $125,000-$157,000 for Illinois based applicants and $137,800-$172,200 for California based applicants. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee's position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, shift, and organizational needs.

The successful candidate may be eligible for 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 the first of the month following 90 days of employment. More information about benefits is available at rivianbenefits.com.

You can apply for this role through careers.rivian.com (or through internal-careers-rivian.icims.com if you are a current employee). This job is not expected to be closed any sooner than 4/1/2026.

Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Rivian is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at candidateaccommodations@rivian.com.

Rivian may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes ("Candidate Personal Data"). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Rivian may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian affiliates; and (iii) Rivian's service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.

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Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.