Sr. Quality Engineer, Scrap Management

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.

We are hiring for a Sr. Quality Engineer, Scrap Management to join our Plant Quality organization and assist in our scrap and non‑conformance material (NCM) processes. In this role, you will work with the technical lead for scrap reduction across all manufacturing shops, partnering with operations, engineering, Material handling, supplier development/quality, and finance to drive measurable improvements in cost of poor quality (CoPQ), First Pass Yield (FPY), and overall plant efficiency.

This role is located in Normal, IL and will report to the Manager, Plant Quality Systems.

• Assist with the plant‑wide scrap reduction strategy, partnering with Operations, Engineering, Finance, Material Handling and Supplier Development/Quality Engineering.
• Support cross‑functional scrap review meetings; track, assign, and close action items.
• Help manage and enforce the Non‑Conformance Material (NCM) process across all shops (identification, tagging, segregation, and disposition).
• Apply Lean methodologies to identify waste streams, simplify workflows, and standardize best practices across scrap and NCM processes.
• Collaborate with the System development team for enhancing NCM tool by providing user stories and UATs.
• Assist in the analysis of scrap trends (by shop, part, supplier, and cost) and develop dashboards/reports in collaboration with the Quality Data Engineering team.
• Help drive structured problem solving (8D, RCCA, DMAIC) for high‑impact scrap issues.
• Partner with Finance to track scrap costs and validate savings from corrective actions.
• Support supplier corrective actions for supplier‑driven scrap.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives (Kaizen, Lean, Six Sigma) to eliminate waste.
• Help train operators, inspectors, and engineers on scrap/NCM compliance and standardized processes.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, or Quality Engineering (Master’s degree preferred).
• 4+ years of experience in manufacturing, quality, or process engineering, ideally in automotive or high‑volume production.
• Experience helping in scrap reduction and NCM processes with measurable results.
• Strong command of Lean, Six Sigma, and structured problem‑solving methods (8D, RCCA, DMAIC).
• Hands‑on experience with MES/SAP systems and proficiency in analytics tools (SQL, Tableau, Power BI, or similar).
• Excellent communication and leadership skills with the ability to influence cross‑functional stakeholders and drive accountability at all levels.
• A track record of successfully balancing strategic leadership with hands‑on problem solving.

Salary Range/Hourly Rate for Illinois Based Applicants: $98,500 - $123,100 (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law).

Benefits

Summary:

Rivian provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full‑time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26. Coverage is effective on the first day of employment, and Rivian covers most of the premiums.

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…