Sr. Optimization Engineer

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.

The responsibility of this position is to develop physics-based computational methods for Rivian propulsion systems to support product development. This candidate will engage in developing new and enhancing existing methods with the overall goal of improving Rivian's propulsion system design quality and reducing cost, with an emphasis on motor design and electrical power conversion.

• FE solvers for motor design, including electromagnetic, structural, NVH, and thermo-fluid analysis
• Geometry generation, meshing, and visualization of 2D/3D FE simulations
• Meta-modeling and response surface (surrogate) generation to augment simulations and testing
• Statistical tools for machine learning and data analysis
• Calibration of simulations with the test data
• Geometric parametrization and optimization methods for motor design
• Discrete and non-linear optimization methods for system-level design and optimization
• Reduced-order model development for system-level analysis
• Parallel implementation (HPC/cloud) of the methods
• User interfaces (UI) for the solvers, including visualization methods
• Documentation and tutorials for the methods
• Pre-, post-, and launch-scripts of the solvers
• Python-based scripting for workflow automation
• C/C++/Fortran program development for solver speed-up

• Minimum master's degree with 3+ years of experience or PhD in mechanical or electrical engineering with a focus on computational methods
• Strong knowledge of fundamental physics and engineering principles
• Strong background in mathematical analysis, scientific computing, numerical methods, and algorithms development
• Proficiency in statistical methods: meta-modeling, data analysis, machine learning, and artificial intelligence
• Proficiency in finite-element analysis: electromagnetics, structural, and thermo-fluids
• Proficiency in programming: C/C++, Fortran, Python, Matlab, etc.

The salary range for this role is USD 111,000-138,700 for Southern 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 February 6, 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.

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.