Staff Battery Cell Engineer

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

This Cell Development Engineer will play a critical role in Rivian battery cell road mapping and strategic planning, including chemistry optimization, cell form factor down selection, and cell supplier nomination. The candidate will be responsible for Rivian battery cell product planning, cell supplier RFP/RFQ technical assessment, and new battery technology mass production readiness and introduction.

Responsibilities

Own cell development from cell design optimization to cell design concept to A-sample design lock. Develop the cell technical roadmap and overall cell strategy for current and future products. Establish strategic relationships with cell vendors and collaborates with Rivian purchasing for cell sourcing. Design, Integration, and Quality: Work with cross-functional teams to translate vehicle requirements into detailed cell requirements and specifications.

Partner with material engineers and mechanical designers to develop a cell that meets all safety, performance (including fast charge and durability), and cost objectives. Collaborate with vendors on cell development and manufacturing process optimization. Oversee early-stage cell supplier's DFMEA (Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) and PFMEA (Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) development.

Process and Communication: Establish internal alignment with cross-functional teams on cell integration into the battery module/pack and vehicle at concept stage. Testing, Validation, and Modeling: Develop and execute test methods to evaluate various lithium-ion battery cell chemistries, coordinating internal and external testing resources.

Drive cell selection decisions based on test results and comprehensive data analysis. Work closely with modeling engineers to extract parameters, build, and validate the cell model. Collaborate with cell testing, modeling, and safety teams to execute comprehensive cell validation and characterization. Utilize electrochemical techniques to identify cell degradation mechanisms and propose mitigation strategies (e.

g., cell design, manufacturing process, or usage changes). Use cell testing data to support control/estimation algorithms within the vehicle's Battery Management Systems (BMS). Innovation and Improvement: Work with pack design engineers to define pathways for improving cell/pack design to enhance performance and lifetime.

Review academic literature on lithium-ion cells and beyond to advance Rivian’s battery cell technology. Develop and secure intellectual property for Rivian battery cell technology. Provide training and technical guidance to other engineers and technicians.

Qualifications

MS degree in chemistry/chemical engineering/materials science with 8+ years of experience with R&D or manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries. (PhD preferred) Experience of leading lithium-ion cell program from concept to Start of Production (SOP) for high volume application Strong understanding of cell components and their interactions inside the cell.

Strong understanding of electrochemical properties of lithium-ion batteries. Experience in cell design and development for high volume production programs. Experience in developing DFMEA and PFMEA, PPAP, Line audit. Demonstrated experience in cell validation. Experience with fault tree analysis and DFMEA/PFMEA of electrochemical systems, for identifying root cause and applying mitigation strategies to development issues.

Familiar with common electrochemical techniques such as EIS, GITT, CV, PITT, etc. Excellent knowledge of development trends in the lithium-ion battery space. Can work independently with minimum supervision and collaborate closely with colleagues. Passionate about lithium-ion battery development, especially in EV. Strong communication, time management, and project management skills.

Nice to have

Knowledge of fast charge development methodology. Experience in estimating lithium-ion battery lifetime. Experience in data analysis AI tools such as Claude, Codex, and Cursor is a plus. Understanding of how battery cells are integrated into automotive (HEVs/PHEVs/EVs), or consumer electronics applications. Working knowledge of SAE, FMVSS, ECE, GBT/QCT standards and regulations relating to automotive traction batteries, and with statistical methods for understanding process capability.

Pay Disclosure The salary range for this role is USD 149,700 - 151,900 for California 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, skills, geographic location, shift, and organizational needs.

The successful candidate may be eligible for annual performance bonus and equity awards. We offer a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26, including but not limited to paid vacation, paid sick leave, and a competitive portfolio of insurance benefits including life, medical, dental, vision, short-term disability insurance, and long-term disability insurance to eligible employees.

You may also have the opportunity to participate in Rivian’s 401(k) Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program if you meet certain eligibility requirements. Full-time employee coverage is effective on their first day of employment. Part-time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment.

More information about benefits is available at rivianbenefits.com. You can apply for this role through careers.rivian.com (or through internal-careers-rivian.icims.com if you are a current employee). This job is not expected to be closed any sooner than November 20, 2026. Equal Opportunity Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Rivian is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at candidateaccommodations@rivian.

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Rivian may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

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How We Use AI in Our Hiring Process: To ensure transparency, we want candidates to know that Rivian uses iCIMS Talent Cloud Artificial Intelligence (TCAI) and AI-enabled tools to assist with screening, reviewing, organizing and highlighting profiles and applications that match the key requirements for each role. AI does not make hiring decisions: Qualified candidate applications are reviewed by a member of our team, and all decisions throughout the process are made by humans.

We use AI to support efficiency and consistency, not to replace human judgment. We are committed to a fair, thoughtful, and equitable experience for every candidate. Participation in AI profile matching is entirely voluntary. If you prefer that your profile not be used in this process, you can opt out at any time. Opting out means your profile will be excluded from automated matching and will not be surfaced for additional roles through this system.

Your current application remains active and will not be affected in any way. Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services. Cell Strategy and Development: Own cell development from cell design optimization to cell design concept to A-sample design lock. Develop the cell technical roadmap and overall cell strategy for current and future products.

Establish strategic relationships with cell vendors and collaborates with Rivian purchasing for cell sourcing. Design, Integration, and Quality: Work with cross-functional teams to translate vehicle requirements into detailed cell requirements and specifications. Partner with material engineers and mechanical designers to develop a cell that meets all safety, performance (including fast charge and durability), and cost objectives.

Collaborate with vendors on cell development and manufacturing process optimization. Oversee early-stage cell supplier's DFMEA (Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) and PFMEA (Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) development. Process and Communication: Establish internal alignment with cross-functional teams on cell integration into the battery module/pack and vehicle at concept stage.

Testing, Validation, and Modeling: Develop and execute test methods to evaluate various lithium-ion battery cell chemistries, coordinating internal and external testing resources. Drive cell selection decisions based on test results and comprehensive data analysis. Work closely with modeling engineers to extract parameters, build, and validate the cell model.

Collaborate with cell testing, modeling, and safety teams to execute comprehensive cell validation and characterization. Utilize electrochemical techniques to identify cell degradation mechanisms and propose mitigation strategies (e.g., cell design, manufacturing process, or usage changes). Use cell testing data to support control/estimation algorithms within the vehicle's Battery Management Systems (BMS).

Innovation and Improvement: Work with pack design engineers to define pathways for improving cell/pack design to enhance performance and lifetime. Review academic literature on lithium-ion cells and beyond to advance Rivian’s battery cell technology. Develop and secure intellectual property for Rivian battery cell technology.

Provide training and technical guidance to other engineers and technicians. Must have: MS degree in chemistry/chemical engineering/materials science with 8+ years of experience with R&D or manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries. (PhD preferred) Experience of leading lithium-ion cell program from concept to Start of Production (SOP) for high volume application Strong understanding of cell components and their interactions inside the cell.

Strong understanding of electrochemical properties of lithium-ion batteries. Experience in cell design and development for high volume production programs. Experience in developing DFMEA and PFMEA, PPAP, Line audit. Demonstrated experience in cell validation. Experience with fault tree analysis and DFMEA/PFMEA of electrochemical systems, for identifying root cause and applying mitigation strategies to development issues.

Familiar with common electrochemical techniques such as EIS, GITT, CV, PITT, etc. Excellent knowledge of development trends in the lithium-ion battery space. Can work independently with minimum supervision and collaborate closely with colleagues. Passionate about lithium-ion battery development, especially in EV. Strong communication, time management, and project management skills.

Nice to have

Knowledge of fast charge development methodology. Experience in estimating lithium-ion battery lifetime. Experience in data analysis AI tools such as Claude, Codex, and Cursor is a plus. Understanding of how battery cells are integrated into automotive (HEVs/PHEVs/EVs), or consumer electronics applications. Working knowledge of SAE, FMVSS, ECE, GBT/QCT standards and regulations relating to automotive traction batteries, and with statistical methods for understanding process capability.