First Assistant Camera Jobs in Santa Clara, CA (NOW HIRING)

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. 

In this role, the staff camera image quality engineer will drive the development of best-in-class camera systems for deployment in Rivian vehicles. This is a high impact role as these camera systems serve all aspects of autonomy, driver assistance and driver convenience. The staff camera image quality engineer would be a highly competent hardware engineer, as well as having solid working knowledge of optics, image sensor, image quality, image signal processor, and software programming.

• Drive the requirements of automotive cameras by collaborating with cross-functional teams.
• Work with contract manufacturers to develop camera products from prototype to mass production.
• Define and execute in-house validation protocols to evaluate camera quality against specifications.
• Lead the validation and integration of cameras in vehicle platforms.

• MS/PhD in Electrical Engineering, Optics, Imaging Sciences, or related fields.
• 5+ years of working experience in relevant fields.
• Experience driving camera system definitions for automotive cameras.
• Deep understanding of all aspects of camera technology including sensor, lens, optics, and image signal processor (ISP).
• Experience in developing camera image quality metrics and test protocols.
• Experience in analyzing performance of complex hardware and software systems.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working on both RGB and IR cameras.
• Experience working with contract manufacturing partners.
• Experience with developing camera modules for high volume productions.
• Proficient with programming in Python.
• Strong project management skills.
• Familiar with issue tracking tools.
• Outstanding communication skills.
• Ability to work at a fast pace and collaborate well with cross functional teams.

Pay Range: The salary range for this role is $186,000 - $232,000 annually for Bay Area 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.

Benefits: 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 7/15/2026.

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.

• MS/PhD in Electrical Engineering, Optics, Imaging Sciences, or related fields.
• 5+ years of working experience in relevant fields.
• Experience driving camera system definitions for automotive cameras.
• Deep understanding of all aspects of camera technology including sensor, lens, optics, and image signal processor (ISP).
• Experience in developing camera image quality metrics and test protocols.
• Experience in analyzing performance of complex hardware and software systems.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working on both RGB and IR cameras.
• Experience working with contract manufacturing partners.
• Experience with developing camera modules for high volume productions.
• Proficient with programming in Python.
• Strong project management skills.
• Familiar with issue tracking tools.
• Outstanding communication skills.
• Ability to work at a fast pace and collaborate well with cross functional teams.