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Mechanical Engineering

Staff Thermal Attributes Engineer – Underhood Performance

Rivian ✓

Own front-end airflow, active-grille-shutter strategy, underhood thermal integration and vehicle-level validation for Rivian programmes.

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Location

Irvine, California, United States

Work mode

On-site

Employment

Full-time

Experience

Senior

Visa support

Not Specified

Salary

$1,54,000 – $1,92,500 per year

Official salary range for California applicants. The selected candidate may also qualify for annual performance bonus and equity awards.

Opportunity

Job Description

This Staff Thermal Attributes Engineer will serve as Rivian’s subject-matter expert for underhood thermal performance and vehicle integration. The engineer will translate thermal and charging requirements into airflow-volume and temperature targets, guide front-end openings and duct design, and coordinate active-grille-shutter strategies. The role combines CFD review, thermal simulation, wind-tunnel testing and physical vehicle validation.

Responsibilities

• Lead vehicle thermal benchmarking focused on front-end design, airflow and thermal architecture.
• Establish underhood airflow and temperature targets for charging and vehicle performance.
• Develop active-grille-shutter strategies that balance thermal performance, efficiency and stone protection.
• Coordinate front-end openings, duct optimisation, sealing and airflow measurement requirements.
• Create and maintain underhood Design Verification Plans for stationary and dynamic conditions.
• Analyse airflow, temperature pickup and air-recirculation test data.
• Review three-dimensional CFD and one-dimensional vehicle simulation results.
• Support climatic wind-tunnel and vehicle-level testing.
• Coordinate with Studio, Aerodynamics, Thermal Engineering and Controls teams.

Eligibility

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Engineering with a strong thermal-science background.
• At least ten years of automotive thermal-attribute, system or component experience.
• Detailed understanding of underhood airflow and automotive thermal architecture.
• Experience analysing CFD and one-dimensional thermal simulation results.
• Valid driving licence and willingness to travel approximately 25% when required.

Required Skills

Underhood thermal engineeringVehicle airflow analysisThermal-system architectureCFD result interpretationVehicle thermal testingRoot-cause analysisCross-functional engineering

Preferred Skills

STAR-CCM+ or FluentGT-SUITEMATLAB or SimulinkClimatic wind-tunnel testingBattery and power-electronics thermal systems

Application Instructions

Submit an application through Rivian’s official careers page and include the requested résumé and candidate details.

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Staff Underhood Thermal Engineer | Rivian | UCO Aero