Senior Engineer, Supplier Development - Exteriors

About the role

The Rivian Supply Chain team is seeking a highly motivated technical professional to ensure the stability and performance of our global supply chain. As a Senior Engineer Supplier Development, you will play a key role in maintaining the quality performance of exterior components and driving improvements through data-driven insights.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field and a minimum of 3 years of relevant supplier development experience.
• Experience managing commodities and understanding the various factors of impact including economic and technology landscapes.
• 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.
• Advanced knowledge of manufacturing techniques and supplier performance ownership.
• Strong communication skills to align larger working groups and defuse conflicts.
• Effective execution measured by the effective management of KPIs and the number of quality risks successfully mitigated.
• Responsible for identifying and managing personal priorities to ensure all area-specific milestones are met on time.

Pay

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.