Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies · San Francisco
Hardware & ElectricalTechnology and InnovationRemoteFullTimeposted 2w ago
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between two industry leaders with a clear vision for automotive’s next chapter. From operating systems to zonal controllers to cloud and connectivity solutions, we’re addressing the challenges of electric vehicles through technology that will set the standards for software-defined vehicles around the world.
The road to the future is uncharted. By combining our expertise across connectivity, AI, security and more, we’ll map a new way forward. Working together, we’ll create a future that’s more connected, more intelligent, more sustainable for everyone.
In this role, you will be part of the team that develops automated test systems for Rivian's RF-enabled electronic control units (ECUs) — including telematics control units, vehicle access and passive entry modules, connectivity gateways, and antenna modules. These ECUs integrate Wi-Fi, Bluetooth/BLE, cellular (LTE/5G), UWB, NFC, and GNSS radios, and validating them requires test solutions that span RF instrumentation, shielded/OTA environments, embedded firmware, and high-volume manufacturing.
Our team's solutions include internal-facing software, low-level firmware, data management platforms, and custom electromechanical and RF hardware. These solutions get deployed internally within RV Tech, at contract manufacturing facilities, and at the brand’s vehicle factories .
You will be an individual contributor with a multi-disciplinary role leading the implementation of vertical RF test solutions for design characterization, reliability, validation, and manufacturing. The primary responsibility of this role is to own the technical aspects of one or more RF test automation projects, from requirements gathering through deployment and sustaining.
Lead the development of automated RF test solutions for connectivity and vehicle access ECUs, from test requirements through deployment at Rivian labs and at contract manufacturers.
Design and build automated test equipment for wireless technologies: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth/BLE, cellular (LTE/5G), UWB, NFC, and GNSS — including conducted and over-the-air (OTA) setups, shield boxes/chambers, RF switch matrices, and cabled path calibration.
Work with the RF, antenna, and electronics design teams to define test requirements and agree on testing strategies for TX power, EVM, sensitivity, spurious emissions, throughput, ranging accuracy, TTFF, and link robustness.
Provide system requirements to the software and hardware automation teams based on the specifications of a given RF ECU, including RF path budgets, calibration strategy, and fixture design.
Develop custom test sequences in Python following software engineering best practices and our standard automation framework, using AI coding agents to accelerate development while owning code quality, review, and validation.
Integrate firmware, hardware, and software end-to-end — bring-up of DUT boards, radio test modes and chipset vendor test commands, bootloaders and flashing flows, and instrument control layers.
Build test solutions for reliability lab settings (HALT/HASS, thermal, vibration, life test, long-duration soak) as well as high-volume manufacturing (cycle time, parallel test, station replication).
Create well documented test cases, calibration procedures, and operating procedures for RF test systems.
Lead the deployment process of test equipment using GR&R, CPK, stress test, and fault injection at contract manufacturers and at Rivian.
Work with validation, reliability, EMC, regulatory/homologation, carrier certification, and product launch teams to ensure test solutions meet their requirements.
Minimum Qualifications:
BS/MS or equivalent work experience in Electrical, Electronics, or RF Engineering.
5+ years of relevant working experience designing automated test equipment (ATE) for electronics, with meaningful time spent on RF/wireless products.
Hands-on experience testing two or more of: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth/BLE, cellular (LTE/5G), UWB, NFC, GNSS.
Experience with RF test instrumentation such as vector signal analyzers/generators, wireless connectivity testers (e.g., LitePoint, R&S CMW/CMX, Anritsu), spectrum analyzers, VNAs, GNSS simulators, power meters, programmable attenuators, and RF switch matrices.
Practical understanding of RF fundamentals: path loss and cable/fixture calibration, VSWR and return loss, shielding and isolation, de-embedding, and conducted vs. OTA measurement tradeoffs.
Ability to read electrical circuits and schematics, navigate PCB layouts (including RF traces and antenna feeds), and understand manufacturer's product data sheets.
Experience working in the automotive, wireless/consumer electronics, semiconductor, or aerospace industries.
Familiarity with vehicle communication protocols (CAN, CAN-FD, DoIP, Automotive Ethernet, LIN, etc.).
Experience with industrial buses and protocols (USB, VISA, GPIB, Ethernet, Serial, RS-485, SPI, I2C, etc.).
Experience supporting deployment of automated test equipment in manufacturing environments.
Experience with automation instrumentation such as programmable power supplies, multiplexers, DMMs, signal generators, and multifunction DAQ devices.
Solid experience programming in Python.
Demonstrated use of AI coding agents (Claude Code, Copilot, Cursor, or similar) to write, refactor, and test automation code, with sound judgment about where AI-generated code needs human verification.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with UWB ranging accuracy characterization (FiRa/CCC digital key) and passive entry/passive start system testing.
Experience with carrier and regulatory certification programs (PTCRB, GCF, FCC/CE) and pre-scan testing.
Experience with GNSS multi-constellation testing, spoofing/jamming scenarios, and record-and-playback systems.
Firmware or embedded development experience (C/C++), including chipset RF test modes and vendor toolchains.
Experience designing custom PCBAs, RF fixtures, or antenna test jigs.
Experience with anechoic or reverberation chamber measurements and positioner automation.
Experience with databases and data management tools like SQL, Databricks, or Apache Superset.
We build the exceptional — and we believe the people doing that work should be rewarded accordingly. In addition to a competitive base salary, full-time positions may be is eligible to participate in our annual company performance bonus program.
Payments are discretionary and not guaranteed; actual amounts depend on company results and the terms of the plan in effect, and require active employment at the time of payout. This role is also eligible for equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), subject to board approval and the terms of our equity incentive plans, including applicable vesting requirements.
In addition to our compensation programs, we invest in our people with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, wellbeing, and financial future for full-time employees — including health coverage, retirement savings, time off, and family planning programs. Offerings vary by country. Learn more about our global benefit programs.
External candidates can apply for this role through the Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies careers site (https://rivianvw.tech/#careers). If you are a current employee, please apply through our internal job board.
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. 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. We are also committed to ensuring compliance with all applicable fair employment practice laws regarding citizenship and immigration status.
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies 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.com.
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies” may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies 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) record keeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies affiliates; and (iii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies’ service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.
If you provide a mobile telephone number as part of your application or during the recruitment process, Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use that number to contact you via SMS text message for recruitment-related purposes, including scheduling, logistics, and status updates. Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out of SMS communications at any time by replying STOP to any text message you receive from us. Consent to receive SMS messages is not a condition of applying for or being considered for employment.
Please see our Candidate Data Privacy Notice (English) and Candidate Data Privacy Notice (Serbian) for more information.
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Please note this job posting represents an open, active vacancy. Additionally, we are not currently accepting applications from third party application services.