Sr. Safety Test Technician

About the role

The Senior Vehicle Test Technician at Rivian plays a key role in the physical execution of our safety and performance programs. This is a "hands-on" role within the workshop, responsible for the end-to-end preparation, teardown, and analysis of vehicle safety assets, for full vehicle crash test, component or assembly testing and complex sub system tests. You will work as the bridge between theoretical engineering and physical validation, ensuring every test asset is built & prepared to precise specifications and that the testing environment remains safe and efficient.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert hands-on support for vehicle rebuilds, retrofits, and complex teardown activities following high-energy test events.
• Collaborate directly with Test Engineers to execute full-vehicle crash tests, sled testing, and component-level safety evaluations.
• Support the installation, extraction, and shipment of critical safety components including airbags, seats, and active safety sensors.
• Maintain the Rivian onsite workshops; manage tool inventory, equipment calibration, and vehicle setup stations to ensure "test-ready" status at all times.
• Aid in the design, fabrication, and assembly of custom test fixtures; maintain an organized fixture repository for recurring DVP requirements.
• Support electrical teams in the installation and repair of both Low Voltage (LV) and High Voltage (HV) vehicle content (training provided).
• Coordinate the organization and secure storage/recycling of pre- and post-test parts; assist engineering teams in the initial analysis of physical test outcomes.
• Operate heavy machinery (forklifts, Stringos, vehicle lifts) and maintain a rigorous safety standard for all personnel within the test environment.

Requirements

• Associate degree in Engineering/Technology or equivalent Automotive Test Technician certification/work experience.
• A strong working level foundational understanding of Automotive Safety components (Airbags, body crash components, electrical architecture) is required.
• Proven ability to work with both mechanical assemblies and electrical systems (LV/HV).
• High level of comfort with heavy machinery, fabrication tools, and vehicle diagnostic equipment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) for incident reporting and documentation.
• Effective communicator across all levels (verbal, email, and digital messaging) to ensure test accuracy and team safety.
• Willingness to work extended hours/night sessions during critical vehicle prep windows and travel out-of-state as project needs dictate.
• Collaborative Mindset: A "team-first" attitude is essential; you thrive in high-pressure environments where coordination is key.
• Detail-Oriented: Precision is non-negotiable when preparing safety assets; you notice the small discrepancies that could impact test data.
• Problem Solver: You are proactive in identifying workshop inefficiencies and suggesting improvements to fixture designs or workflows.
• Resilient: Comfortable working in a physically demanding environment that requires heavy lifting and standing for extended periods.

Qualifications

• Must be an effective communicator across all levels (verbal, email, and digital messaging) to ensure test accuracy and team safety.
• Willingness to work extended hours/night sessions during critical vehicle prep windows and travel out-of-state as project needs dictate.
• Collaborative Mindset: A "team-first" attitude is essential; you thrive in high-pressure environments where coordination is key.
• Detail-Oriented: Precision is non-negotiable when preparing safety assets; you notice the small discrepancies that could impact test data.
• Problem Solver: You are proactive in identifying workshop inefficiencies and suggesting improvements to fixture designs or workflows.
• Resilient: Comfortable working in a physically demanding environment that requires heavy lifting and standing for extended periods.

Skills

• Expertise in automotive safety components (Airbags, body crash components, electrical architecture).
• Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to operate heavy machinery and maintain a rigorous safety standard.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Benefits

• Comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time employees, 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.
• Employee Stock Purchase Program if you meet certain eligibility requirements.
• 401(k) Plan eligibility.

Pay

The salary range for this role is $34.17-$42.71/hour for Michigan based applicants and $40.67-$50.84/hour for New York 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.

Schedule

This role typically involves a flexible schedule to accommodate the demands of the job, including potential night shifts and travel out-of-state as needed.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Engineering/Technology or equivalent Automotive Test Technician certification/work experience.
• A strong working level foundational understanding of Automotive Safety components (Airbags, body crash components, electrical architecture) is required.
• Proven ability to work with both mechanical assemblies and electrical systems (LV/HV).
• High level of comfort with heavy machinery, fabrication tools, and vehicle diagnostic equipment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) for incident reporting and documentation.
• Effective communicator across all levels (verbal, email, and digital messaging) to ensure test accuracy and team safety.
• Willingness to work extended hours/night sessions during critical vehicle prep windows and travel out-of-state as project needs dictate.
• Collaborative Mindset: A "team-first" attitude is essential; you thrive in high-pressure environments where coordination is key.
• Detail-Oriented: Precision is non-negotiable when preparing safety assets; you notice the small discrepancies that could impact test data.
• Problem Solver: You are proactive in identifying workshop inefficiencies and suggesting improvements to fixture designs or workflows.
• Resilient: Comfortable working in a physically demanding environment that requires heavy lifting and standing for extended periods.

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.

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.