Demo

Mechatronics Validation Engineer - Vehicle Hardware

Jobs via Dice
Palo Alto, CA Part Time
POSTED ON 5/31/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 6/29/2026
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.

Responsibilities

  • Validation Planning & Criteria Development:
    • Support development and execution of validation plan for mechatronic systems and sub-systems, ensuring all design and performance requirements are met.
  • Test Plan Development:
    • Create detailed test specifications and plans for validating automotive mechatronic systems.
    • Update validation plans to incorporate new requirements or design controls arising from DFMEA (Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) reviews.
  • Component and System Validation:
    • Perform validation testing on mechatronic components (sensors, actuators, controllers) and sub-systems.
    • Control and monitor vehicle mechatronic systems during tests, identifying and troubleshooting potential failures.
    • Collaborate with system engineers to resolve issues identified during validation testing.
  • Vendor Collaboration & Test Procedure Review:
    • Support coordination with external testing vendors to ensure tests are executed in alignment with program timelines and requirements.
    • Review and ensure that all test procedures vendors conduct to meet the requirements and company standards.
  • Data Logging & Analysis:
    • Set up data logging systems to collect relevant test data and manage test reports according to record retention policies.
    • Analyze test data to identify performance metrics, deviations, and potential failures, providing recommendations for improvement.
  • Test-Methodology Execution & Improvement:
    • Execute defined test methodologies and contribute to improvements by incorporating lessons learned and feedback from validation activities.
  • Reporting & Continuous Improvement:
    • Catalog, prepare, and manage external and internal test reports, ensuring accuracy and adherence to validation policies.
Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics Engineering or a related field.
  • Experience: 3 years of experience in automotive testing and validation, mainly focusing on mechatronics systems.
  • Hands-on experience with mechanical and electrical lab equipment, including environmental chambers, actuators, power supplies, and custom validation fixtures.
  • Strong experience with data acquisition systems (DAQ), sensor integration, signal conditioning, and instrumentation setup for durability and functional validation.
  • Proficient in CAN-based tools such as Vector CANalyzer and Vector CANape; working knowledge of CAN/LIN communication, diagnostics (UDS), and ECU interaction.
  • Demonstrated expertise in diagnosing electrical and mechanical system issues, including wiring, ECUs, sensors, and actuators, with a structured root cause methodology.
  • Strong analytical skills using tools such as MATLAB, and Python for day-to-day data processing, visualization, and interpretation. Solid foundation in mechatronic systems with the ability to work on prototype hardware, fixtures, and perform mechanical adjustments and system-level debugging.
  • Working knowledge of CAD tools (e.g., CATIA) for designing and reviewing validation fixtures and test setups.
  • Eperience with engineering lifecycle and tracking tools such as Jira, Jama, and Confluence for requirements traceability, test execution, and issue tracking.

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $85,400 - $94,900 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.

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

Candidate Data Privacy

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.

Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.

Salary : $85,400 - $94,900

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Mechatronics Validation Engineer - Vehicle Hardware?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Mechatronics Validation Engineer - Vehicle Hardware career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$91,017 - $111,627
Income Estimation: 
$106,299 - $135,354
Income Estimation: 
$108,186 - $133,193
Income Estimation: 
$96,211 - $107,713
Income Estimation: 
$115,275 - $131,105
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at Jobs via Dice

  • Jobs via Dice South Burlington, VT
  • Contract: Long-Term Location: Burlington, VT Shift: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm - 100% Onsite Top Skills: Active Directory TicketingSystem Windows 11 Micr... more
  • 3 Days Ago

  • Jobs via Dice Anchorage, AK
  • Sr. Project Manager W/ Energy Experience - Contract (12-month) Anchorage, Alaska (or surrounding areas) Work Setting: Hybrid (with travel throughout Alaska... more
  • 3 Days Ago

  • Jobs via Dice Smithfield, RI
  • job summary: Experience with incident management and issue troubleshooting. Experience in financial services applications is a plus. location: Smithfield, ... more
  • 3 Days Ago

  • Jobs via Dice Providence, RI
  • Dice is the leading career destination for tech experts at every stage of their careers. Our client, Talent Groups, is seeking the following. Apply via Dic... more
  • 3 Days Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Mechatronics Validation Engineer - Vehicle Hardware jobs in the Palo Alto, CA area that may be a better fit.

  • Rivian Palo Alto, CA
  • 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 c... more
  • 3 Days Ago

  • Tesla Motors, Inc. Palo Alto, CA
  • What to Expect Join Tesla's Vehicle Engineering team to validate our next-generation computing platforms that power Infotainment, Autopilot, Optimus, and D... more
  • 1 Month Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!