Controls Software Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Staff Embedded Motor Controls Software Engineer to join our inverter-embedded software team. As a senior member of the team, your mission is to greatly enhance the inverter software performance, safety, robustness, and reliability. You will be responsible for architecting, implementing, and enhancing the key software functions and frameworks for PWM control, key sensors such as resolver, voltage, current, and temperature, as well as fault detection and reaction frameworks.
Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership: Lead the design, development, implementation, and enhancement of the key software functions and frameworks for PWM control, key sensors such as resolver, voltage, current, and temperature, as well as fault detection and reaction frameworks.
• Innovation and Problem Solving. Greatly enhance the inverter software performance, safety, robustness, and reliability. Solve complex technical problems with robust and scalable solutions.
• Mentorship: Mentor and guide junior engineers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Collaboration: Work closely with hardware engineers, program managers, and other stakeholders to define system requirements and develop integrated solutions.
• Project Management: Oversee multiple projects, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to specifications, while managing resources and budgets effectively.
• Documentation: Maintain comprehensive documentation of design specifications, development processes, and troubleshooting procedures.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, electrical engineering
• Experience: Minimum of 8+ years of experience in embedded software development, with at least 5 years in a senior or leadership role.
• Prior experience for a leading role in EV propulsion embedded software is highly desired.
• Proficient in C/C++ programming and python programming languages along with software design
• Deep understanding of embedded systems architecture and real-time operating systems (RTOS).
• Knowledge of power electronics and safety.
• Knowledge of hardware design and integration.
• Experience with microcontrollers, microprocessors, and peripheral interfaces.
• Strong knowledge of software development lifecycle and methodologies, including Agile and Scrum.
• Strong software development experience under CI/CD (Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery)

Pay Disclosure
The salary range for this role is $171,000 - $213,000 for Carson 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 2/27/2026.
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
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.