Senior Staff Electrical Systems Engineer

About Us

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between two industry leaders with a clear vision for automotive’s next chapter. From operating systems to zonal controllers to cloud and connectivity solutions, we’re addressing the challenges of electric vehicles through technology that will set the standards for software-defined vehicles around the world.

The road to the future is uncharted. By combining our expertise across connectivity, AI, security and more, we’ll map a new way forward. Working together, we’ll create a future that’s more connected, more intelligent, more sustainable for everyone.

Role Summary

RV Tech — the Rivian and Volkswagen Group joint venture — builds the electrical and electronic foundation of a software-defined vehicle platform used by both partner OEMs. Our Electrical Systems Hardware Engineering group owns the vehicle's electrical system architecture and domain definition.

This is the most senior individual contributor role in the group. You set cross-domain electrical architecture direction for US-based programs, own the multi-year technology roadmap, and hold the group's technical positions with partner OEM teams and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Define the electrical architecture approach across domains: low- and high-voltage (LV/HV) power distribution, harness strategy, and electrical interface definitions

• Set zonal topology strategy — the basis for zonal ECU count, placement, and device I/O allocation

• Define LV power architecture standards: supply strategy, bus management, power modes, and fault handling

• Establish the methods used for requirement decomposition, traceability, interface control, and mission profile development

• Own the multi-year electrical technology roadmap, direct the supporting R&D, and make build, buy, and partner recommendations

• Define validation strategy across unit, software-in-the-loop (SIL), hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and vehicle-level testing, including coverage and responsibility boundaries with partner OEM teams

• Negotiate architecture positions that scale across both Rivian and Volkswagen Group programs

• Direct resolution of complex, cross-domain electrical issues

• Set standards for schematic review, DFMEA, load and fault analysis, and ISO 26262 functional safety work products

• Identify architectural problems the organization has not yet framed, and define the work required to address them

• Mentor Senior and Staff engineers, and represent the electrical systems function in program and leadership reviews

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field

• ~12+ years in electrical systems engineering on automotive or comparable complex embedded products

• Ownership of electrical architecture across multiple domains or programs, through to production

• Deep expertise in LV/HV power systems, electrical distribution, and wiring harness design

• Advanced requirements decomposition, interface definition, and validation strategy

• Track record of setting technical standards adopted beyond an immediate team

• Applied ISO 26262 functional safety experience in an electrical systems context

• Ability to align technical and program stakeholders without direct authority

Preferred Qualifications

• Zonal or centralized E/E architecture experience on a production program, including topology definition

• eFuse or solid-state power distribution, DC-DC converter integration, or 12V/48V bus architecture

• Circuit simulation for load, transient, and fault analysis (SPICE, Saber, or equivalent)

• Electrical design tooling

• Advanced engineering or R&D leadership maturing pre-production technology

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering or a related field

Total Rewards

We build the exceptional — and we believe the people doing that work should be rewarded accordingly. In addition to a competitive base salary, full-time positions may be is eligible to participate in our annual company performance bonus program.

Payments are discretionary and not guaranteed; actual amounts depend on company results and the terms of the plan in effect, and require active employment at the time of payout. This role is also eligible for equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), subject to board approval and the terms of our equity incentive plans, including applicable vesting requirements.

In addition to our compensation programs, we invest in our people with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, wellbeing, and financial future for full-time employees — including health coverage, retirement savings, time off, and family planning programs. Offerings vary by country. Learn more about our global benefit programs.

External candidates can apply for this role through the Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies careers site (https://rivianvw.tech/#careers). If you are a current employee, please apply through our internal job board.

Equal Opportunity

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. 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. We are also committed to ensuring compliance with all applicable fair employment practice laws regarding citizenship and immigration status.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies 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.

Candidate Data Privacy

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies” 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 and Volkswagen Group Technologies 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) record keeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies 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 and Volkswagen Group Technologies affiliates; and (iii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies’ service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.

If you provide a mobile telephone number as part of your application or during the recruitment process, Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use that number to contact you via SMS text message for recruitment-related purposes, including scheduling, logistics, and status updates. Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out of SMS communications at any time by replying STOP to any text message you receive from us. Consent to receive SMS messages is not a condition of applying for or being considered for employment.

Please see our Candidate Data Privacy Notice (English)and Candidate Data Privacy Notice (Serbian) for more information.

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Please note this job posting represents an open, active vacancy. Additionally, we are not currently accepting applications from third party application services.