Software Validation Manager 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
Our team develops firmware and controls for a wide range of power conversion systems, used in both automotive and energy applications (e.g., DC fast chargers, residential bidirectional chargers, onboard power electronics).
We're looking for a candidate to lead the design, development, and maintenance of our Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) development platforms, tools, and infrastructure. You'll drive the implementation of our software test framework, from its high-level architecture to its detailed development. This involves collaborating with controls and software developers to define test requirements, create test cases, execute and analyze test results, and ensure traceability of test cases to requirements.
Responsibilities

• HIL Model Setup: Design and build HIL environments that accurately represent the real-world behavior of our power electronics products.
• Test Case Development: Develop comprehensive test cases that cover a wide range of operating conditions, fault scenarios, and functional safety requirements.
• Test Execution and Analysis: Execute HIL tests, collect and analyze data, identify and document issues, and provide clear and concise reports to development teams. Automation of regression tests execution at different stages of software development cycles and its integration with CI/CD workflow/pipelines.
• Software Validation: Collaborate with controls and software engineers to validate the functionality, performance, and safety of power electronics software and control algorithms.
• Troubleshooting and Debugging: Assist in troubleshooting and debugging issues identified during HIL testing, working closely with hardware and software teams to resolve problems. Triage and debug the failed test cases between HIL related failures and software bugs.
• Continuous Improvement: Contribute to the continuous improvement of HIL models, testing processes, tools, and methodologies.
• Documentation: Maintain clear and detailed documentation of test setups, test cases, test results, and any issues encountered. Manage the traceability of test coverage from requirements to validation at different granularity levels of requirements on the HIL with growing SW maturity levels. Report on the test coverage improvements to the team regularly.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related discipline. Master's degree preferred.
• 5+ years of experience with HIL specification, design, and implementation.
• 5+ years of experience with test case design, automation, and execution.
• Deep knowledge of HIL and real-time testing software tools such as Typhoon, NI, OPAL-RT dSPACE, or similar.
• Ability to optimize software build and test workflow using scripting languages such as Python, Perl, or Unix shell.
• Ability to develop tests cases from bare minimum or ambiguous requirements.
• Practical experience programming in Python and C.
• Experience with Py-Test in developing modular and scalable software Test and automation infrastructure for Embedded and real-time control applications. Comfortable with integrating and using 3rd party python toolboxes/packages to improve test and automation infrastructure.
• Experience with flash tools and software release pipelines.
• Experience with developing, integrating and maintaining CI/CD pipelines into test and automation infrastructure for a code base with many users.
• Experience with automation and build tools (Bazel, Jenkins, Docker, SCons).
• Hands-on experience in using test equipment and validation tools (CANalyzer, CANape or similar XCP/CCP interface tools, JTAG/DAP interface debuggers).
• Comfortable with using schematics and layout files to understand design information.
• Comfortable with using oscilloscope and basic probing tools for debugging purposes.

Pay Disclosure
Pay Range: The salary range for this role is $135,000 - $168,000 annually 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.
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 4/25/2026.
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 and Technology
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.
AI does not make hiring decisions: Qualified candidate applications are reviewed by a member of our team, and all decisions throughout the process are made by humans. We use AI to support efficiency and consistency, not to replace human judgment. We are committed to a fair, thoughtful, and equitable experience for every candidate.
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.