Staff Battery Test and Validation Engineer
Rivian · Normal, IL
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Quality
- Experience asked
- 10+ years
- Industry
- Automotive
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior quality role at Rivian (automotive) in Normal, IL.
- They ask for
- 10+ years
- Tools it names
- Root cause, FMEA, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), Automation
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Quality Engineer roles in Illinois: typical posted base $98k–$136k.
Median of the low and high ends of 41 live postings that list pay, out of 53 quality engineer openings in Illinois, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Illinois plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 52 other live quality postings in Illinois.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (10+ vs 4+)
Typical $98k–$125k, from 36 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 4+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Root cause 49%
- Supplier quality 47%
- ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 45%
- Team leadership 36%
- SPC 34%
- Six Sigma 30%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Quality team at Rivian
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Which standards drive the work here: ISO 13485, IATF 16949, AS9100?
- How much of the job is customer complaints versus prevention?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Rivian in Normal
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Full description from RivianAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership: Act as the primary technical authority for high-voltage battery validation, providing high-level direction to lab personnel and external partners on complex Li-Ion battery system behaviors (electrical, thermal, safety, and longevity). Methodology Innovation: Pioneer the development of novel test methodologies and "First Principles" validation assessments. Drive the standardization of test outlines for next-generation HV battery systems. Infrastructure Strategy: Lead the technical specification and sourcing strategy for large-scale test equipment, ensuring the lab remains at the cutting edge of battery technology. Advanced Data Analytics: Develop automated data pipelines and analytical frameworks to transform raw test data into actionable insights for the wider organization. Systemic Problem Solving: Lead cross-functional Root Cause Analysis (RC) for complex, multi- system failure modes, influencing design changes at the cell, module, and pack levels. Risk Mitigation & Governance: Lead and approve high-stakes technical assessments, including DFMEA, PFMEA, and DVP&R. Ensure "Read Across" activities are integrated into the global design cycle to prevent repeat issues. Technical Memory & Standards: Design and oversee the organization’s "Technical Memory"— building the templates, lessons-learned databases, and ADV Toolboxes that define how the company validates batteries. Cross-Functional Influence: Represent the Battery Test organization in Key Stakeholder Reviews and Executive-level design reviews, influencing Product Development and Change Management strategies.
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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 As a Staff Battery Test Engineer, you will be a foundational technical leader within the battery organization in Normal, IL. You will be responsible for defining the long-term architectural vision for the testing and validation of current and next-generation high-voltage battery systems. In this role, you will act as a bridge between Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality, ensuring that our validation strategies are not only rigorous but also scalable and industry-leading. You will serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME), mentoring senior engineers and driving the technical roadmap for our state-of-the-art battery lab.