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Exterior Trim Mechanical Design & Release Engineer

Rivian

Rivian

Design
United States · Irvine, CA, USA
USD 85,600-107k / year
Posted on Jan 16, 2026

Job Description

About Rivian

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.


Role Summary

Join our Exterior engineering team and play a key role in bringing our vehicle designs to life. You'll be at the forefront of designing, developing, and releasing critical exterior components.


Responsibilities

  • Lead the design, development, and release of exterior components.
  • Apply engineering fundamentals to become proficient in diverse manufacturing processes, such as injection molding, compression molding, 2-shot molding, and overmolding.
  • Serve as a vital link between design and engineering, working hand-in-hand with our studio team to shape high-quality A-surfaces that meet stringent Design for Manufacturability (DFM) requirements while maintaining Vehicle theme & Brand value.
  • Champion first-principle driven design, developing exterior components that contribute to the optimal performance and aesthetics of the entire product.
  • Create CAD concepts, detailed 2D sections, and 3D concept CAD during the early development stages.
  • Effectively communicate and manage complex projects with various cross-functional groups.
  • Collaborate with diverse teams to overcome challenges and craft integrated design solutions that meet all system requirements.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering (Masters Preferred)
  • 2-4+ years of relevant automotive design experience
  • Proficiency in Catia v5/v6 or similar CAD software, demonstrating applied knowledge.
  • Practical knowledge of injection molding, compression molding, and assembly techniques. You should understand how a part’s geometry affects its tooling complexity.
  • The ability to work closely with Design Studio, translating artistic vision into feasible engineering solutions.
    Experience taking components from initial concept and CAD design through validation testing and production launch.
  • Hands-on experience in design through the manufacturing/fabrication process, either through curriculum or extracurricular projects.
  • Strong logical reasoning; adept in quantitative, qualitative, organizational, and communication skills. Proactively identifies and mitigates challenges to boost efficiency.

Pay Disclosure

Salary Range Irvine-Based Applicants: $85,600-$107,000 (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, and other factors permitted by law).

Benefits Summary: Rivian provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26. Coverage is effective on the first day of employmen




Equal Opportunity

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.

Candidate Data Privacy

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.

Rivian may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, 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.

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