Staff Controls and Automation Engineer, Remanufacturing
Rivian · Shepherdsville, KY
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Controls
- Base pay
- $120k–$159k
- Travel
- 30%
- Experience asked
- 6+ years
- Industry
- Automotive
- Posted
- 23 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior controls role at Rivian (automotive) in Shepherdsville, KY.
- They ask for
- 6+ years
- Tools it names
- OEE, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), PLC, Robotics, Automation, Welding
- Base pay
- $120k–$159k
- Day to day
- about 30% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Controls Engineer roles in Kentucky: typical posted base $90k–$145k. This one lists $120k–$159k.
Median of the low and high ends of 3 live postings that list pay, out of 15 controls engineer openings in Kentucky, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Kentucky plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 14 other live controls postings in Kentucky.
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (6+ vs 60+)
Similar roles usually ask 60+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ PLC 73%
- ✓ Robotics 73%
- ✓ Automation 73%
- Root cause 40%
- ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 33%
- New product launch 27%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for OEE, 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 Controls 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?
- The posting says about 30% travel. Between which sites?
- 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.
Full description from RivianAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
PLC Controls and Automation subject matter expert Enforce/Apply Rivian standards and best practices Hands On role where you will be expected to conceive, design, build (or outsource), Implement and maintain solutions. Manage internal and external resources to ensure Rivian best practices are adhered to. Coordinate buyoffs and commissioning with integrators and on-site subcontractors Perform safety buyoffs of robot and operator safety (DCS, CubicS, MoveSafe, KukaSafe) Manage project execution and schedule by closely working with integrators, suppliers and programmers Continuous improvement of standards Develop solutions for processes which are not covered in Rivian standards Cycle time improvements Vendor and contractor management Remove roadblocks for integrators to ensure timely execution Own and drive equipment integration Establish relationships across various departments to drive learning and cross-functional problem solving Create tools to improve buyoff and commissioning activities to help Rivian reduce commissioning time Assist in the design and building of tools and equipment or recommend improvements to existing processes Verify and configure I/O and setup communication with robot peripherals Verify robot master, TCP validation, frame validation and payload setup Write, test, and modify programs and templates Provide technical support and direction to support personnel within the organization Provide technical expertise and leadership for the timely resolution of manufacturing process and product design problems. Serve as a resource for cause / effect analyses, investigations, statistical studies, and corrective action planning Travel (up to 30%) to integrators sites and Rivian factories to perform equipment validation and commissioning support.
Qualifications
Must Have: BS/MS Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or equivalent 6+ Years of relevant experience in the field of robotics for industrial automation Demonstrated team leadership, collaboration, and facilitation skills Intimate knowledge and experience with spot welding, stud welding, arc welding, material handling, adhesive, SPR, various vision systems, Hemming. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills Ability to effectively influence, negotiate, and communicate with internal and external business partners, contractors, and vendors Hands-on production operations experience, in-depth understanding of how complex production lines operate with a focus on OEE (Overall equipment efficiently), error prevention, automated fault recovery. Proficient with industrial robot brands such as Fanuc, Kawasaki, ABB, Kuka, etc. Practical hands-on experience specifying robotic hardware setup and software options for a wide variety of automation solutions. Practical experience implementing, testing, and verifying robot safety functions such as DCS, CubicS and SafeMove as well as adhering to industry Demonstrated PLC programming experience is required. Allen Bradley, Siemens, Rockwell preferred. Familiarity with and experience using the AI tools within the Hardware Manufacturers software package(s) Nice to Have: Ability to read, follow, and understand ladder logic Basic understanding of mechanical repair, computer programming, and electric circuit design Project planning and project management experience Experience with offline programming Experience with project management tools (Smart Sheets, JIRA) Experience developing template programs, I/O maps, and macros as part of company standards. Experience commissioning industrial robots out of the box in a large manufacturing installation. Experience physically installing robot and mounting end of arm tooling Experience with robot vision systems such as Halcon or Matrox. Experience with robot SDK packages for alternative control of the robot’s motions planners Pay Disclosure The salary range for this role is $119,800 to $158,670 for Kentucky 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, skil
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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 The Rivian Remanufacturing Team aims to be at the forefront of innovation and technology in automation controls. Our mission is to build a world-class controls automation platform that minimizes development time, reduces commissioning time, and eliminates unplanned downtime. We are looking for talented, forward thinking “hands on” Staff Controls and Automation Engineer to join our team. You will play a lead role in implementation and deployment of Rivian controls and automation standards and best practices. Collaborating both internally with fellow Engineers and externally with vendors and suppliers is a crucial aspect of this role. We will work with robot and device suppliers to develop standard application packages for use with common end of arm tool applications such as dispensing, material handling, vision, etc. as well as assisting with RFQ preparation and reviewing vendor proposals for robotic automation equipment ranging in size from single robot work cells. These are exciting times for the Automation Controls team, and we need your unique talents to help us accomplish our lofty goals and ensure that Rivian continues to Keep the World Adventurous Forever.
