Automation Direct Plc Programmer Jobs in Washington, IL

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 Rivian Supply Chain team is looking for a highly motivated and accomplished Supply Chain Engineering professional to bring Rivian’s engineered products to life. In this role, the Sr. Engineer will be responsible for leading the design of material handling & kitting systems, automation, and other lean equipment to improve flow. Cross-functionally works with the internal stakeholders during the design, testing, installation, and start-up phases of equipment. Designs equipment that meets established safety, production, and quality levels. This role reports to the Senior Manager of Equipment Design Engineering onsite in Normal, IL or our new facility in Georgia once it opens.  

• Leads the development of mechanical and electromechanical products by studying the process requirements and researching lean material handling methods.
• Assures system and product quality by designing testing methods to verify finished product and system capabilities.
• Analyzes and reviews CPU/OEE and looks for improvement opportunities in equipment design using kaizen activities to reduce cost and improve uptime.
• Reports equipment design progress and project planning through a weekly report or dashboard.
• Interfaces and communicates with internal departments to ensure material handling equipment production targets are being met and provides countermeasures for quality/downtime concerns.
• Provides direction for the fabrication of all material handling equipment.
• Coaches and mentors engineering team regarding the design of lean material handling equipment
• Ability to comprehend and guide teams on writing engineering specifications
• Collaborates with external equipment vendors
• Promotes a safe work environment and maintains an atmosphere of trust and positive morale for team and partners.
• Responsible for ensuring safety, quality, cost, timing & throughput targets are achieved on all projects.
• Works closely with maintenance on all equipment designs and provides proper documentation, drawings, and buy off.
• Provides FMEA documentation and cross-functionally works to lower the RPN to an acceptable level before implementation.
• Builds yearly capital and operational budgets. 

• 3+ years of experience in designing material handling equipment and automation.
• Experience facilitating the leadership of projects with cross-functional teams
• Direct experience working alongside a team of fabricators
• BA in Mechanical or Mechatronics Engineering or equivalent work experience.
• Requires design skills of material handling equipment, conceptual skills, standard engineering concepts, and equipment maintenance.
• Experience in lean material flow equipment solutions and knowledge of how to utilize equipment design to complement or enhance process.
• Experience designing kitting systems, roll-off or mother/daughter dollies, minomi, and AGV systems.
• Experience with electric/pneumatic drives, including chains, pulleys, bearings, and castor.
• Experience with gravity and karakuri systems.
• Working knowledge of Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook programs.
• AutoCAD, 3D CAD or Solidworks (similar) experience.
• Knowledge of VBA, PLC programming, and Ladder Logic.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and responsibilities.
• Strong team orientation and cross functional attitude.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
• Ability to communicate in a high-pressure environment.
• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time. More during peak periods or launch

The salary range for this role is $98,500 - $123,100 for Illinois/Georgia 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 July 28th, 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.  

How We Use AI in Our Hiring Process: To ensure transparency, we want candidates to know that Rivian uses iCIMS Talent Cloud Artificial Intelligence (TCAI) and AI-enabled tools to assist with screening, reviewing, organizing and highlighting profiles and applications that match the key requirements for each role.

Participation in AI profile matching is entirely voluntary. If you prefer that your profile not be used in this process, you can opt out at any time. Opting out means your profile will be excluded from automated matching and will not be surfaced for additional roles through this system. Your current application remains active and will not be affected in any way.

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

• 3+ years of experience in designing material handling equipment and automation.
• Experience facilitating the leadership of projects with cross-functional teams
• Direct experience working alongside a team of fabricators
• BA in Mechanical or Mechatronics Engineering or equivalent work experience.
• Requires design skills of material handling equipment, conceptual skills, standard engineering concepts, and equipment maintenance.
• Experience in lean material flow equipment solutions and knowledge of how to utilize equipment design to complement or enhance process.
• Experience designing kitting systems, roll-off or mother/daughter dollies, minomi, and AGV systems.
• Experience with electric/pneumatic drives, including chains, pulleys, bearings, and castor.
• Experience with gravity and karakuri systems.
• Working knowledge of Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook programs.
• AutoCAD, 3D CAD or Solidworks (similar) experience.
• Knowledge of VBA, PLC programming, and Ladder Logic.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and responsibilities.
• Strong team orientation and cross functional attitude.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
• Ability to communicate in a high-pressure environment.
• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time. More during peak periods or launch