Sr. Manufacturing Engineer, General Assembly - Advanced ME
Rivian · Irvine, CA
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Base pay
- $108k–$135k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Industry
- Automotive
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior manufacturing role at Rivian (automotive) in Irvine, CA.
- They ask for
- 5+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- OEE, FMEA, DOE, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), Tooling
- Base pay
- $108k–$135k
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $115k–$169k. This one lists $108k–$135k.
Median of the low and high ends of 126 live postings that list pay, out of 346 manufacturing engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 345 other live manufacturing postings in California.
- Base pay
- About 10% below similar roles
- Experience asked
- Typical (5+ years)
Typical $111k–$159k, from 112 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Tooling 51%
- New product launch 49%
- Root cause 39%
- Automation 36%
- CATIA / NX 27%
- Machining 27%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for OEE, DOE, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with 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 Manufacturing 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?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- 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 Irvine
2 other open roles at this site.
- Staff Advanced Manufacturing Engineer - Electro Mechanical · Reliability · Senior
- Early Career - Validation Engineer, Vehicle Hardware · Quality
Full description from RivianAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
Conduct DFMA studies at a part, assembly, and system level to provide design feedback Lead static and kinematic studies to simulate assembly and equipment interactions Drive content reduction, assembly simplification, and build-in-quality Lead PFMEA, build sequence, and process layout development; host new product virtual builds with cross functional teams Support prototype and design validation builds: design and deliver proto manufacturing tooling, prepare bill of process, lead manufacturing trials, etc. Support manufacturing validations builds at Rivian’s manufacturing plants, working closely with factory integration and equipment teams Actively engaged in value engineering, challenge assumptions and break the status quo
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
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 Impressive designs achieve balance between functionality, manufacturability and serviceability. You are the driving force behind optimizing Design for Manufacturing and Assembly of Rivian’s future products, ensuring we can manufacture efficiently, safely, and sustainably. You will work closely with product design, virtual engineering, equipment and integration teams to dissect every part, and leave your fingerprints across both design and manufacturing. This opening will be located at our Irvine, CA facility and reports directly to an Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Manager