Staff Electrical System Engineer, Charging & Energy

Rivian · Auto · Torrance, CA +1 · Energy & Charging

Rivian is seeking a Staff Electrical System Engineer for their Charging & Energy team. This senior individual contributor role focuses on the end-to-end system architecture, integration, and performance of Rivian's charging and energy products. Responsibilities include defining and driving architectures, requirements, DFMEAs, and validation strategies across hardware, firmware, communications, and cloud/mobile interfaces. The role involves technical leadership, system-level trade-offs, and mentoring other engineers, with a strong emphasis on PCBA technical leadership and hardware development.

What you'd actually do

Own key charging and energy systems and functions across one or more product lines (e.g., DC high‑power chargers, residential/bidirectional chargers, and related control systems), from concept through launch and sustainment.
Independently create, drive, and complete critical systems engineering deliverables (requirements, DFMEAs, interface definitions, validation plans) — including “thankless” or ambiguous work that falls between teams — and ensure they are adopted across programs.
Lead system‑level trade‑off and design decisions, balancing safety, performance, cost, schedule, and interoperability across hardware, software, and cloud/mobile.
Define and maintain end‑to‑end system architectures for charging and energy products, spanning: ○ Power and electrical architectures (e.g., high‑voltage paths, protection and sensing, power conversion interfaces) ○ Embedded control architectures (controllers, interfaces, diagnostics) ○ Communication architectures (vehicle, charger, cloud, and mobile; e.g., CAN, Ethernet, IP‑based protocols)
Architect and lead DFMEA / functional safety / hazard analysis work at the system level, ensuring that vehicle‑ and customer‑level failure modes are comprehensively mapped to subsystem and component mitigations.

Skills

Required

Systems engineering
Electrical engineering
Hardware development
Firmware development
Communication protocols (CAN, Ethernet, IP-based)
DFMEA
Functional safety
Hazard analysis
Requirements development and management
Validation strategies
Altium Designer
SPICE simulation
Signal Integrity (SI) simulation
Power Integrity (PI) simulation
High-power/high-current PCB design
Thermal management
Schematic capture and layout
Design for Manufacturing (DFM)
Design for Test (DFT)
EMC/EMI compliance
Hardware bring-up and debug
Root cause analysis
System integration
SIL/HIL/bench/lab/vehicle validation

Nice to have

Experience with charging and energy products (DC fast charging, home/destination charging, bidirectional charging)
Cloud and mobile interface experience
Mentoring and upleveling engineers

What the JD emphasized

end-to-end system architecture
integration
performance
hardware
embedded software
cloud
mobile
vehicle teams
safe
reliable
delightful charging experiences
system-level outcomes
architectures
requirements
DFMEAs
validation strategies
hardware
firmware
communications
cloud/mobile interfaces
technical leader
integrator
ambiguous or under-resourced spaces
systems engineering
multi-quarter, cross-functional efforts
charging and energy domain
complex, safety- and customer-critical functions
mentor and uplevel other engineers
systems engineering tools, practices, and decision-making
key charging and energy systems and functions
product lines
DC high-power chargers
residential/bidirectional chargers
related control systems
concept through launch and sustainment
critical systems engineering deliverables
requirements
DFMEAs
interface definitions
validation plans
adopted across programs
system-level trade-off and design decisions
safety
performance
cost
schedule
interoperability
hardware
software
cloud/mobile
exceed goals
C&E systems function
cross-functional product and program goals
end-to-end system architectures
charging and energy products
Power and electrical architectures
high-voltage paths
protection and sensing
power conversion interfaces
Embedded control architectures
controllers
interfaces
diagnostics
Communication architectures
vehicle
charger
cloud
mobile
CAN
Ethernet
IP-based protocols
system and interface requirements development
allocation and traceability
vehicle
charger
cloud
mobile teams
sign-off across all stakeholders
Architect and lead DFMEA / functional safety / hazard analysis
system level
vehicle- and customer-level failure modes
subsystem and component mitigations
Analyze and evaluate design impacts
new concepts
components
vendors
data-driven recommendations
architecture and design direction
PCBA Technical Leadership & Liaison
Primary Point of Contact
critical interface
Charging & Energy team
PCBA design engineering team
electrical and layout-related functions
Lifecycle Ownership
hardware products
infancy through mass production and field support
design intent
field-performance data
future iterations
Design Strategy
best practices
schematic capture
layout
library management
Altium Designer
seamless transitions to manufacturing
Detailed Hardware Development & Analysis
Strategic Component Selection
deep-dive component analysis
technical performance
power efficiency
thermal characteristics
long-term supply chain viability
Advanced Simulation
pre- and post-layout simulations
SPICE
Signal Integrity (SI)
Power Integrity (PI)
mitigate risks
validate performance
fabrication
Specialized Board Design
high-power/high-current PCBAs
copper weight optimization
busbar integration
thermal management
custom embedded computer products
SoCs
high-speed memory
Rigorous Reviews
schematic and layout reviews
DFM (Design for Manufacturing)
DFT (Design for Test)
EMC/EMI compliance
System Integration & Validation
Architecture Mapping
LV control boards
embedded platforms
broader system
software
cloud layers
Validation Strategy
test teams
system/sub-system DVPs
ensuring 100% traceability
high-level system requirements
component-level validation
Root Cause Analysis
complex hardware bring-up and debug sessions
field or lab failures
high-speed oscilloscopes
logic analyzers
thermal imaging
requirements coverage and validation strategies
virtual and physical assets
SIL
HIL
bench
lab assets
vehicles
key charging and energy features
define
review
improve system/sub‑system DVPs
test plans
traceability back to

Read full job description

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 Charging & Energy Systems team is responsible for the end‑to‑end system architecture, integration, and performance of Rivian’s charging and energy products — spanning DC fast charging, home and destination charging, and the software and cloud services that enable them. We work across hardware, embedded software, cloud, mobile, and vehicle teams to deliver safe, reliable, and delightful charging experiences for our customers. The Staff Systems Engineer, Charging & Energy is a senior individual contributor who owns system‑level outcomes for major charging and energy products and features. You will define and drive architectures, requirements, DFMEAs, and validation strategies that span hardware, firmware, communications, and cloud/mobile interfaces. You operate as a technical leader and integrator — similar to our current Staff Systems Engineers on the team — independently creating and driving critical deliverables to completion, often in ambiguous or under‑resourced spaces, and directly improving the quality of systems engineering within C&E. This role is expected to: ● Lead multi‑quarter, cross‑functional efforts in the charging and energy domain ● Serve as the go‑to systems owner for complex, safety‑ and customer‑critical functions ● Mentor and uplevel other engineers in systems engineering tools, practices, and decision‑making Responsibilities Technical leadership & ownership ● Own key charging and energy systems and functions across one or more product lines (e.g., DC high‑power chargers, residential/bidirectional chargers, and related control systems), from concept through launch and sustainment. ● Independently create, drive, and complete critical systems engineering deliverables (requirements, DFMEAs, interface definitions, validation plans) — including “thankless” or ambiguous work that falls between teams — and ensure they are adopted across programs. ● Lead system‑level trade‑off and design decisions, balancing safety, performance, cost, schedule, and interoperability across hardware, software, and cloud/mobile. ● Develop and execute strategies to exceed goals within the C&E systems function, while contributing meaningfully to cross‑functional product and program goals. Systems engineering & architecture: ● Define and maintain end‑to‑end system architectures for charging and energy products, spanning: ○ Power and electrical architectures (e.g., high‑voltage paths, protection and sensing, power conversion interfaces) ○ Embedded control architectures (controllers, interfaces, diagnostics) ○ Communication architectures (vehicle, charger, cloud, and mobile; e.g., CAN, Ethernet, IP‑based protocols) ● Own system and interface requirements development, including allocation and traceability across vehicle, charger, cloud, and mobile teams, and ensure sign‑off across all stakeholders. ● Architect and lead DFMEA / functional safety / hazard analysis work at the system level, ensuring that vehicle‑ and customer‑level failure modes are comprehensively mapped to subsystem and component mitigations. ● Analyze and evaluate design impacts of new concepts, components, or vendors, making clear, data‑driven recommendations on architecture and design direction. PCBA Technical Leadership & Liaison ● Primary Point of Contact: Act as the critical interface between the Charging & Energy team and the dedicated PCBA design engineering team for all electrical and layout-related functions. ● Lifecycle Ownership: Drive hardware products from infancy through mass production and field support, ensuring design intent is maintained and field-performance data is looped back into future iterations. ● Design Strategy: Establish best practices for schematic capture, layout, and library management within Altium Designer, ensuring seamless transitions to manufacturing. Detailed Hardware Development & Analysis ● Strategic Component Selection: Conduct deep-dive component analysis, evaluating technical performance, power efficiency, thermal characteristics, and long-term supply chain viability. ● Advanced Simulation: Lead pre- and post-layout simulations (SPICE, Signal Integrity (SI), and Power Integrity (PI)) to mitigate risks and validate performance before fabrication. ● Specialized Board Design: Direct the development of high-power/high-current PCBAs, focusing on copper weight optimization, busbar integration, and thermal management, alongside custom embedded computer products (SoCs, high-speed memory). ● Rigorous Reviews: Lead schematic and layout reviews with a focus on DFM (Design for Manufacturing), DFT (Design for Test), and EMC/EMI compliance. System Integration & Validation ● Architecture Mapping: Define how LV control boards and embedded platforms interface with the broader system, software, and cloud layers. ● Validation Strategy: Work with test teams to define system/sub-system DVPs, ensuring 100% traceability from high-level system requirements to component-level validation. ● Root Cause Analysis: Lead complex hardware bring-up and debug sessions for field or lab failures, utilizing high-speed oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and thermal imaging. Integration, validation & quality: ● Lead requirements coverage and validation strategies across virtual and physical assets (SIL, HIL, bench, lab assets, and vehicles) for key charging and energy features. ● Work with validation and test teams to define, review, and improve system/sub‑system DVPs, test plans, and traceability back to requirements and DFMEAs. ● Analyze test and field/telemetry data to identify performance trends, gaps, and systemic issues in charging and energy systems; drive root‑cause analysis and corrective actions across HW/SW/comms domains. ● Proactively fill gaps in testing and validation when resources are constrained, ensuring that critical risks and edge cases are still surfaced and resolved before launch. ● Create and maintain essential systems documentation (architectures, interface control documents, specifications, DFMEAs, test reports), and ensure it is consumable by both technical and non‑technical stakeholders. Cross‑functional collaboration & communication: ● Drive cross‑functional decision‑making between hardware, firmware, software, vehicle, cloud, mobile, interoperability, compliance, and test teams for charging and energy products. ● Translate complex system behaviors, risks, and trade‑offs into clear, executive‑ready narratives and recommendations that support program and business decisions. ● Serve as a key systems point of contact for external partners (e.g., certification bodies, utilities, interoperability partners) as needed, supporting efforts such as standards compliance and network integration. ● Act as a systems engineering ambassador within C&E, raising the overall quality of requirements, DFMEAs, and validation practices across the organization. Mentorship & culture: ● Mentor and coach Sr./Engineer‑level peers in systems thinking, requirements authoring, DFMEAs, validation strategies, and effective cross‑functional communication. ● Model calm, fact‑based problem solving in high‑pressure situations, setting the tone for how the team approaches complex integration issues and launch‑critical problems. ● Help define and continuously improve how systems engineering is practiced within Charging & Energy (templates, checklists, tool usage, review forums, and knowledge sharing). Qualifications Required Qualifications Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field. Hardware Expertise: Typically 8+ years of relevant experience in EE design and PCBA development, with a proven track record of bringing complex hardware to market. Altium Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in Altium Designer for multi-layer, high-density, or high-power designs. Domain Depth: Direct experience in designing custom embedded computer PCBAs and LV control boards, as well as high-power/high-current carrying PCBAs. Analytical Rigor: Expert knowledge in component-level analysis, worst-case modeling, and circuit simulation (SPICE or equivalent). Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional technical teams and serve as a primary liaison between specialized design groups and system organizations. Preferred Qualifications Systems Engineering Foundations: Experience with systems tools and methods, including requirements management (Jama, DOORS), DFMEA, functional safety analysis, and structured root-cause methods. High-Speed Design: Experience with DDR4/5, PCIe, or USB 3.0 within custom embedded hardware. Thermal Design: Advanced understanding of thermal management for high-current PCBAs (e.g., thermal vias, heavy copper, heatsink integration). Industry Standards: Familiarity with EV charging standards and safety certifications (e.g., UL 2231, IEC 61851). Data Proficiency: Experience using Python or SQL for data analysis, hardware validation, or telemetry processing. Pay Disclosure Salary Range California-Based Applicants: $154,000-$192,500 (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, and other factors permitted by law). Benefits Summary: Rivian provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26. Coverage is effective on the first day of employment. 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.