Lighting Engineer Jobs in California (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, you will act as the technical owner and lead for your assigned parts, serving as the primary authority for the development and final sign-off of innovative lighting solutions. You are responsible for defining and managing part requirements throughout the entire lifecycle, ensuring all designs meet strict manufacturability and compliance standards. By bridging the gap between Studio, Engineering, and Suppliers, you’ll facilitate seamless component integration and clear communication across the business. Your analytical skills and creative problem-solving will drive these lighting systems from initial concept through to successful mass production.

• Translate aesthetic styling visions into feasible, production-ready interior lighting and exterior lighting solutions.
• Solve technical problems and evaluate design trade-offs using first-principles reasoning and root-cause analysis, leveraging expertise in plastics, injection molding, optical design, and electronics to ensure all parts and assemblies are optimized for high-volume manufacturing.
• Apply GD&T principles and perform tolerance stack-up analysis to ensure fit, finish, and perceived quality standards are achieved.
• Lead the development of DFMEA. Ensure that requirements are defined and then validated with the DVP&R.
• Manage Tier 1 supplier relationships including RFQ documentation, technical design reviews, and the integration of supplier feedback.
• Execute engineering change management and maintain accurate Bills of Materials using Enovia. Create and manage 3D and 2D data with Catia V6.
• Align engineering deliverables with commercial program targets including appearance, cost, weight, durability, legal requirements and timing objectives.
• Communicate technical concepts effectively to stakeholders and leadership to drive cross-functional collaboration between studio design, manufacturing, and program management to resolve complex engineering issues.

• Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering
• Preferred: Experience at Exterior/interior Lamp development at a Tier 1 or OEM
• Capable of managing the full part lifecycle, including design, engineering validation, and release to production systems.
• Ability to design injection molded parts with good understanding of injection molding design guide lines.
• Understanding of methods for fixing plastic components together.  
• Demonstrated proficiency in CAD tools, with the ability to create, manipulate, and review geometry to communicate concepts and design intent. Ideally proficient in CATIA V5/V6.
• Capable of Generating 3D geometry & sectional data. (Key module utilization: Part design & Geometric Surface design)
• Able to apply fundamental and first principles to identify analyze and resolve Technical Challenges

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.

• Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering
• Preferred: Experience at Exterior/interior Lamp development at a Tier 1 or OEM
• Capable of managing the full part lifecycle, including design, engineering validation, and release to production systems.
• Ability to design injection molded parts with good understanding of injection molding design guide lines.
• Understanding of methods for fixing plastic components together.  
• Demonstrated proficiency in CAD tools, with the ability to create, manipulate, and review geometry to communicate concepts and design intent. Ideally proficient in CATIA V5/V6.
• Capable of Generating 3D geometry & sectional data. (Key module utilization: Part design & Geometric Surface design)
• Able to apply fundamental and first principles to identify analyze and resolve Technical Challenges