Staff Engineer - Restraints (Airbags)

As a member of Rivian’s Restraints team within Interior Engineering, you will play a key role in shaping innovative safety products from concept through volume production. Your contributions will directly drive the design, integration, and development of high-performing, sustainable airbag systems across Rivian vehicles—specifically focusing on frontal airbags (driver/passenger), and side curtain airbags. The Restraints Engineering team is a place to be creative and technical while contributing to a culture of trust, safety, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Airbag System Ownership: Lead the end-to-end design, packaging, and execution of vehicle airbag modules—including driver/passenger frontal airbags, and side curtain airbags—from initial architecture through high-volume production.
• CAD & Packaging: Lead product design in CATIA V6 utilizing Generative Shape Design (GSD), Part Design, and Sketcher workbenches to optimize tight interior packaging, deployment paths, and roof rail / pillar integration.
• Studio & Interior Integration: Collaborate closely with Studio Designers and Interior Trim/A-B-C Pillar teams to ensure airbag packaging harmonizes with design themes, trim fitments, and dynamic deployment envelopes.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Coordinate across teams (Body Structure, Crash & Safety/CAE, Electrical, Testing, Tier 1 Suppliers) to achieve crash performance, mass, timing, and commercial targets.
• BOM & Change Management: Author and manage engineering Bills of Materials
• Risk & Quality Management: Lead Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) for airbag modules and deployment systems, cascading design dependencies to cross-functional partners.
• Validation & Sign-Off: Develop and execute Product Validation (DVP&R) plans, coordinate physical component and sled/crash test validation, and sign off on technical validation results.
• Values: Exhibit “Rivian Compass” values in everything you do.
• Qualifications

• Domain Expertise: Deep knowledge in the design, packaging, release, and testing of automotive airbag systems, with explicit expertise in frontal airbags, and/or side curtain airbag deployment kinematics.
• Experience: 10+ years of restraints engineering experience (frontal, and/or side curtain airbags), spanning both OEM and/or Tier 1 supplier roles.
• Lifecycle Mastery: Demonstrated track record taking airbag components through all product development phases—from early concept trade studies through tooling, DV/PV testing, launch, and service.
• Software Proficiency: Advanced working knowledge of automotive CAD platforms (CATIA, NX, etc) and Enovia PLM.
• Regulatory & Safety: Strong understanding of global vehicle safety regulations (FMVSS 208, 214, 226, Euro NCAP) relevant to frontal impacts, side impacts, and rollover curtain deployments.
• Testing & CAE: Experience with CAE occupant simulation feedback, deployment sled testing, and physical vehicle crash testing.
• * Education: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related mechanical discipline (Master’s degree is a plus).