What you'd actually do

Own the quality performance for exterior components, focusing on maintaining "Low-to-No Risk" (CL3) status.

Proactively identify challenges and propose specific solutions to remove risks before they impact production.

Own and lead the APQP/PPAP process for assigned parts, ensuring suppliers meet all technical and documentation standards.

Act as the technical owner for the industrialization of assigned suppliers and manage the final quality sign-off process.

Operate with moderate autonomy to drive improvements and results within an assigned scope or commodity.

Skills

Required

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical field
3+ years of relevant supplier development experience
Experience managing commodities
Advanced knowledge of manufacturing techniques
Supplier performance ownership
Strong communication skills
Ability to align working groups and defuse conflicts
Effective management of KPIs
Ability to identify and manage personal priorities

Nice to have

Experience in Automotive Exterior components
Experience with A-Class Surface Parts with gloss and color requirements
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes such as Injection & Blow Molding and Sheet Metal Forming

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 The Rivian Supply Chain team is looking for highly motivated technical professionals to ensure the stability and performance of our global supply chain. As a Senior Engineer Supplier Development, you will serve as a key individual contributor responsible for the quality performance and continuous improvement of an assigned commodity or group of suppliers. You will work with moderate autonomy to ensure that supplier manufacturing capabilities meet design requirements and that quality expectations are strictly followed. In this role, you will drive results by proactively identifying challenges at the supplier level and proposing actionable solutions to remove risks before they impact production. You are expected to lead the APQP/PPAP process for your assigned area and maintain strong relationships with direct counterparts to resolve recurring issues. This role offers the opportunity to influence sourcing decisions through expert analysis and data-driven insights. This position is based on site in Plymouth, MI, Normal, IL or Irvine, CA with a 30-40% domestic and international travel requirement and reports to Senior Manager of Supplier Development. Responsibilities Supplier Management: Own the quality performance for exterior components, focusing on maintaining "Low-to-No Risk" (CL3) status. Directly oversee action plans for CL2 suppliers to prevent regression into higher-risk categories. Problem-Solving and Risk Mitigation: Proactively identify challenges and propose specific solutions to remove risks before they impact production. Demonstrate proficiency in robust problem-solving tools (e.g., 5-Why, Fishbone, Is/Isn't) to resolve recurring issues. Technical Skills: Own and lead the APQP/PPAP process for assigned parts, ensuring suppliers meet all technical and documentation standards. Define clear expectations and monitor timelines with suppliers to ensure on-time delivery of quality milestones. Organizational Influence & Outreach: Act as the technical owner for the industrialization of assigned suppliers and manage the final quality sign-off process. Use data-driven insights to directly influence the work of peers. Direction: Operate with moderate autonomy to drive improvements and results within an assigned scope or commodity. Proactively identify challenges and use data-driven logic to propose solutions that remove risk. Qualifications Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field and a minimum of 3 years of relevant supplier development experience. Domain Expertise: Experience managing commodities and understanding the various factors of impact including economic and technology landscapes. Commodity-Specific Experience: Candidates with experience in Automotive Exterior components, A-Class Surface Parts with gloss and color requirements, and a strong understanding of manufacturing processes such as Injection & Blow Molding and Sheet Metal Forming are highly preferred. Technical Skills: Advanced knowledge of manufacturing techniques and supplier performance ownership. Communication: Strong distributor of information, capable of aligning larger working groups and defusing conflicts. Execution: Measured by the effective management of KPIs and the number of quality risks successfully mitigated. Operational Style: Responsible for identifying and managing personal priorities to ensure all area-specific milestones are met on time. Travel Requirements: Regular domestic and international travel is a core part of this role, expected to average between 30-40% annually. Pay Disclosure The salary range for this role is $89,900 - $112,400 for Plymouth, Michigan and Normal, Illinois based applicants and $98,500 - $123,100 for Irvine, 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. 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 close prior to June 17, 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 candidateaccommodations@rivian.com. 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.

Senior Engineer, Supplier Development - Exteriors

What you'd actually do

Skills

Required

Nice to have

What the JD emphasized