Staff Power Electronic Controls Engineer

About the role

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.

Responsibilities

• Pioneering Control: Designing and optimizing control algorithms for a diverse portfolio of power electronics applications, including EV chargers, bidirectional residential systems, and onboard vehicle power.
• Virtual Prototyping: Utilizing advanced simulation tools to evaluate circuit topologies and components, ensuring optimal performance and efficiency.
• Defining Intelligence: Translating application requirements into clear and effective controller specifications.
• Algorithm Innovation: Developing and implementing novel control strategies at both the system and component levels.
• Hands-on Validation: Rigorously testing and troubleshooting your control algorithms in both simulated and physical hardware environments.
• Digital Twin Development: Creating detailed power electronics models to analyze and verify the robustness and performance of your controllers across all operating conditions.
• System Integration: Defining comprehensive tests to validate your algorithms and their interaction with other system features.
• Team Up: Collaborating closely with talented system, electrical, and software engineers to achieve ambitious goals.

Qualifications

• An MSc or PhD in Electrical Engineering specializing in Power Electronics or Controls (MSc with 3+ years of experience, PhD is a plus).
• A strong theoretical and practical understanding of power electronics control, with excellent analytical skills. You're familiar with the inner workings of AC/DC, DC/AC and DC/DC resonant converter topologies (Vienna, Totem Pole, DAB, LLC, and CLLC are in your vocabulary).
• Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity and develop robust control algorithms from scratch, covering software architecture, implementation, integration, and testing.
• Proven experience in developing, implementing, and verifying control algorithms for switching power converters using both simulation and hardware platforms.
• Expertise in MATLAB/Simulink and experience with power converter modeling tools (e.g., PLECS) and real-time simulation platforms (like Opal-RT, Typhoon HIL).
• Solid programming skills in C/C++ and Python, with a focus on writing high-quality code for embedded systems.
• A proactive, self-driven attitude with a strong attention to detail and the ability to thrive in a dynamic, deadline-oriented environment.

Pay

The salary range for this role is USD 171,100-213,900 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. 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.