Sr. Automation and Controls Engineer (Drive Unit)

Location: 100 Rivian Motorway (Normal Illinois)

Category: Manufacturing

Employment Type: FULL_TIME

Tags: Full Time, Rivian Automotive

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 Automation Controls Engineer for Equipment Engineering are the production line experts for controls in the facility in Normal, IL. This is Heavy PLC programming role. The team troubleshoots any technical issues during production, sometimes working with engineers on any changes, upgrades or configurations that are needed for future production changes. This role would be located in the Drive Unit department. This role is located at our Normal, IL facility and reports directly to the Manager, Automation Controls Engineering. Responsibilities Participate in various controls equipment buy-offs at vendor sites and at Rivian’s factory in Normal, IL for FAT, SAT, and safety. Participate in development of controls standards and specifications by feeding back lessons-learned and gaps from each project to ensure that future projects will run smoother. Continuously improve the production lines by reducing cycle time, reducing downtime, and improving quality. Maintain, modify, and properly version control equipment programs, configuration files, and documentation as changes are implemented. This includes but is not limited to hardware, electrical, safety, pneumatic, network, PLC, HMI, Robot, SCADA, and MES. Add or remove network devices from the equipment as needed, updating network switch configurations as needed. Troubleshoot, improve, and add features to PLCs using Ladder Logic and/or Structured Text with an emphasis on code that is organized, structured, documented, maintainable and reusable. Troubleshoot, improve, and add features to HMIs to make them more user-friendly, intuitive and suitable for operating and troubleshooting equipment. Implement and make modifications to MES logic for production and performance management in the PLCs and HMIs. Ensure proper implementation of and modifications to (ANSI/RIA15.06/OSHA compliant) control reliable safety systems for safeguarding robots, gantries, conveyors, and other high volume manufacturing equipment. Train Production and Maintenance teams in proper use of the equipment and troubleshooting from the HMI. Qualifications To be considered for this position, all internal candidates must submit an updated resume highlighting their relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments. Applications submitted without an updated resume will not be considered. Please ensure that your resume accurately reflects your qualifications for this role. ● 5+ years of Controls Engineering experience or equivalent work experience. ● BS/MS Electrical Engineering or equivalent work experience. ● Expertise with common controls hardware components used in high-volume manufacturing. ● Hands-on experience integrating and commissioning high volume manufacturing equipment. ● In-depth knowledge of Safety standards (ANSI/RIA15.06, OSHA). ● Experience participating in safety design reviews and validating equipment safeties during buy-off. ● In-depth knowledge of Electrical Standards (NFPA79, National Electric Code, UL508A). ● Experience developing electrical schematics using EPLAN, AutoCAD Electrical, or similar. ● Advanced proficiency programming industrial equipment using various IEC 61131-3 languages. ● Experience writing standard and safety PLC projects from scratch for high-volume manufacturing equipment using Rockwell, Siemens, or Beckhoff PLCs. ● Experience creating HMI projects from scratch for high-volume manufacturing equipment using FactoryTalk View, WinCC, Ignition, Wonderware, TwinCAT HMI, or similar. ● Experience programming and troubleshooting industrial 6-axis robots such as Fanuc, ABB, Kawasaki, etc. is preferred. ● Experience troubleshooting common fieldbus networks such as Ethernet/IP, EtherCAT, or Profinet. ● Knowledge of communications between machine PLCs and database systems ● Experience interfacing manufacturing equipment with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES). Pay Disclosure The salary range for this role is $98,500 - $123,300 for Illinois 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 March 23rd, 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.com. Candidate Data Privacy and Technology Rivian 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 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. Rivian 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 affiliates; and (iii) Rivian’s service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services. Rivian may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, 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. 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.

Responsibilities

Participate in various controls equipment buy-offs at vendor sites and at Rivian’s factory in Normal, IL for FAT, SAT, and safety. Participate in development of controls standards and specifications by feeding back lessons-learned and gaps from each project to ensure that future projects will run smoother. Continuously improve the production lines by reducing cycle time, reducing downtime, and improving quality. Maintain, modify, and properly version control equipment programs, configuration files, and documentation as changes are implemented. This includes but is not limited to hardware, electrical, safety, pneumatic, network, PLC, HMI, Robot, SCADA, and MES. Add or remove network devices from the equipment as needed, updating network switch configurations as needed. Troubleshoot, improve, and add features to PLCs using Ladder Logic and/or Structured Text with an emphasis on code that is organized, structured, documented, maintainable and reusable. Troubleshoot, improve, and add features to HMIs to make them more user-friendly, intuitive and suitable for operating and troubleshooting equipment. Implement and make modifications to MES logic for production and performance management in the PLCs and HMIs. Ensure proper implementation of and modifications to (ANSI/RIA15.06/OSHA compliant) control reliable safety systems for safeguarding robots, gantries, conveyors, and other high volume manufacturing equipment. Train Production and Maintenance teams in proper use of the equipment and troubleshooting from the HMI.

Qualifications

To be considered for this position, all internal candidates must submit an updated resume highlighting their relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments. Applications submitted without an updated resume will not be considered. Please ensure that your resume accurately reflects your qualifications for this role. ● 5+ years of Controls Engineering experience or equivalent work experience. ● BS/MS Electrical Engineering or equivalent work experience. ● Expertise with common controls hardware components used in high-volume manufacturing. ● Hands-on experience integrating and commissioning high volume manufacturing equipment. ● In-depth knowledge of Safety standards (ANSI/RIA15.06, OSHA). ● Experience participating in safety design reviews and validating equipment safeties during buy-off. ● In-depth knowledge of Electrical Standards (NFPA79, National Electric Code, UL508A). ● Experience developing electrical schematics using EPLAN, AutoCAD Electrical, or similar. ● Advanced proficiency programming industrial equipment using various IEC 61131-3 languages. ● Experience writing standard and safety PLC projects from scratch for high-volume manufacturing equipment using Rockwell, Siemens, or Beckhoff PLCs. ● Experience creating HMI projects from scratch for high-volume manufacturing equipment using FactoryTalk View, WinCC, Ignition, Wonderware, TwinCAT HMI, or similar. ● Experience programming and troubleshooting industrial 6-axis robots such as Fanuc, ABB, Kawasaki, etc. is preferred. ● Experience troubleshooting common fieldbus networks such as Ethernet/IP, EtherCAT, or Profinet. ● Knowledge of communications between machine PLCs and database systems ● Experience interfacing manufacturing equipment with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).