Hardware Validation Engineer

Key Responsibilities:

• Validation Planning: Develop and manage comprehensive validation plans for Interior and Exterior subsystems within specific vehicle programs.
• Criteria Development: Establish criteria to ensure that all requirements are met, including considerations for sample size, statistical analysis, and attribute vs. variable testing.
• Research and Benchmarking: Conduct research and benchmark system validation tests that are not currently part of our portfolio but are essential for achieving target vehicle performance.
• Plan Updates: Update validation plans to incorporate new requirements or design controls arising from DFMEA reviews.
• Vendor Collaboration: Work closely with external testing vendors to quote, source, and schedule validation testing in alignment with program budgets and timelines.
• Test Procedure Review: Review and ensure that all test procedures conducted by vendors meet the necessary requirements.
• Troubleshooting and Resolution: Assist in troubleshooting and resolving issues identified during validation testing, working with development engineers to document and address these issues.
• Report Management: Receive, catalog, and prepare external test vendor reports and Rivian test reports in accordance with the record retention policy.
• Certification Compliance: Ensure that all certification tests and reports are managed and published in compliance with certification and compliance group instructions.
• Test Methodology: Develop and revise test methods, incorporating lessons learned from previous tests.
• Cost Estimation: Own and continuously improve the test cost estimator tool, providing accurate cost estimates for supplier reviews and challenging suppliers on budget estimates related to design changes.
• Tool Design: Create CAD designs for validation-specific tools, including fixtures and applicators.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
• Minimum of a summer internship experience, preferably within an engineering company, with office environment experience required.
• 1-5 years of relevant experience preferred, designing and testing mechanical systems for the automotive or related industry. Experience with strength, fatigue, and cyclic durability testing is a strong plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace is required.
• Experience with Jira software is a plus.