Field Quality and Reliability Engineer - Mechanical Systems

Quality and reliability are core to Rivian’s customer experience and product performance. We are looking for a Field Quality and Reliability Engineer to support the Vehicle Hardware by identifying emerging field issues early, analyzing reliability trends, and driving technical problem-solving to resolution.

This role is focused on using field, service, warranty, and manufacturing data to detect early life failures, proactively identify wear-out failure trends, and translate findings into effective containment and long-term corrective actions. The engineer will work cross-functionally with technical support, design, manufacturing, service, quality, supply chain, and other partner teams to improve product quality and reliability.

• Apply field quality and reliability engineering methods to improve vehicle performance and customer experience for Vehicle Mechanical systems

• Analyze field, service, warranty, and manufacturing data to identify reliability trends, bad actors, and emerging failure modes

• Use reliability statistics and trend analysis to detect early life failures and proactively identify wear-out failures in the field

• Develop clear risk assessments and communicate issue severity, frequency, and business impact to cross-functional stakeholders

• Lead and support technical investigations using a data-driven approach to identify failure patterns, isolate root causes, and define next actions

• Drive issues to resolution by partnering with technical support, engineering, manufacturing, service, supplier quality, and other cross-functional teams

• Support root cause analysis activities with structured problem-solving methods and evidence-based decision-making

• Create analyses ranging from simple time-in-service or mileage-based studies to deeper reliability and degradation assessments

• Develop reliability insights and forecasts that help teams prioritize containment, corrective actions, and long-term product improvements

• Translate field findings into recommendations for design improvements, manufacturing process improvements, service actions, and test method updates

• Monitor the effectiveness of corrective actions and confirm that implemented countermeasures reduce field failure risk.

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering field

• Experience in automotive manufacturing, automotive quality, reliability engineering, or a related technical role

• Strong analytical skills with experience interpreting field and manufacturing data

• Working knowledge of reliability statistics, data analysis, and trend monitoring

• Experience supporting root cause investigations and driving issues through containment and corrective action

• Ability to work cross-functionally and communicate clearly with technical and non-technical stakeholders

• Working knowledge of Python, SQL, or similar tools for data analysis

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience identifying early life failures and wear-out failure trends in field populations
• Knowledge of reliability engineering concepts and statistical methods such as Weibull analysis, life data analysis, and reliability trend tracking
• Familiarity with automotive manufacturing processes and vehicle systems
• Understanding of the physics of failure for mechanical and electromechanical systems
• Experience with problem-solving and failure analysis tools
• Familiarity with failure analysis techniques such as microscopy, X-ray, CT, FTIR, SEM, or EDS
• Experience using tools such as JMP, ReliaSoft, or similar statistical software