Question 1

What does the Sr. Manager, Battery Cell Engineering role at Rivian involve?

Accepted Answer

The Sr. Manager, Battery Cell Engineering at Rivian leads the team responsible for cell development strategy across all current and future Rivian vehicle programmes. Responsibilities span the full cell lifecycle — from decomposing vehicle and pack requirements into cell specifications, through supplier selection and technical evaluation, to leading cell development from concept through mass production launch. The role also owns Rivian's cell technology roadmap, manages external research partnerships, and develops intellectual property in battery cell technology.

Question 2

Which Rivian vehicles and programmes does this role support?

Accepted Answer

The Sr. Manager, Battery Cell Engineering role at Rivian supports cell development across the company's full product portfolio, including the R1T electric pickup truck, the R1S electric SUV, and Rivian's commercial delivery fleet. The role is responsible for developing cell strategy for both current production programmes and future vehicle platforms, making it central to Rivian's long-term electrification roadmap and competitive positioning in the EV market.

Question 3

What is Rivian and what makes its approach to battery development distinctive?

Accepted Answer

Rivian is a US electric vehicle manufacturer known for its adventure-oriented R1T pickup and R1S SUV, as well as a large commercial delivery van fleet operated in partnership with Amazon. The company takes a vertically integrated approach to vehicle development, including in-house battery pack design and cell engineering — rather than relying solely on off-the-shelf cell supply. This Sr. Manager role sits at the centre of that strategy, responsible for both advancing cell technology and managing the supplier relationships that underpin Rivian's battery supply chain.

Question 4

What is the salary for the Sr. Manager, Battery Cell Engineering role at Rivian?

Accepted Answer

The published salary range for the Sr. Manager, Battery Cell Engineering position at Rivian is $176,200 to $220,300 per year for California-based applicants. The successful candidate may also be eligible for annual performance bonuses and equity awards. The benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short and long-term disability insurance, paid vacation, paid sick leave, a 401(k) Plan, and an Employee Stock Purchase Program.

Question 5

What qualifications and experience are required for this role?

Accepted Answer

Rivian requires a Master's degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, or materials science with 5 or more years of hands-on lithium-ion battery testing experience — a PhD is preferred. Candidates must also have at least 3 years of management experience with a demonstrated leadership record including at least one product launch. Strong electrochemistry knowledge, experience in lithium-ion cell characterisation or development, and excellent communication skills are all essential. Desirable experience includes electrochemical techniques such as EIS and GITT, fast charge development, Python data analysis, and knowledge of automotive traction battery standards.

Question 6

What seniority level is this role and what does it lead?

Accepted Answer

This is a senior manager and principal-level role at Rivian, carrying responsibility for building and leading the entire battery cell engineering function. The Sr. Manager owns team development, technical roadmap, supplier strategy, and IP development — and drives cross-functional delivery across pack design, BMS controls, and external research partners. The salary range of $176,200 to $220,300 and the requirement for 3 or more years of management experience with a product launch track record place this firmly at the senior leadership level.

Question 7

Where is the role based and what is the working pattern?

Accepted Answer

The Sr. Manager, Battery Cell Engineering role is based at Rivian's facility in Tustin, California. The listing does not specify a hybrid or remote option, and the hands-on nature of cell development, validation, and lab-based testing strongly implies an onsite or predominantly onsite working pattern. Candidates should be located in or able to relocate to the greater Los Angeles or Orange County area.

Question 8

Why is battery cell engineering technically challenging in the EV sector?

Accepted Answer

Lithium-ion cell development for automotive applications requires balancing competing requirements across energy density, power capability, cycle life, calendar life, safety, fast charge tolerance, and cost — all within the mechanical and thermal constraints of a vehicle pack. At the cell level, small changes in electrode composition, electrolyte formulation, or formation protocol can have significant downstream effects on degradation mechanisms and failure modes that only manifest over thousands of cycles. Managing this complexity across multiple cell chemistries, suppliers, and vehicle platforms simultaneously — while maintaining traceability to vehicle and pack-level requirements — makes senior cell engineering leadership one of the most demanding roles in EV development.

Question 9

What disciplines and teams does the Sr. Manager, Battery Cell Engineering collaborate with at Rivian?

Accepted Answer

The role works cross-functionally with Rivian's pack design, battery management system, controls and estimation, manufacturing, and quality teams, as well as with external cell suppliers and research institutes. The Sr. Manager must decompose requirements from vehicle programmes and translate them into cell specifications, which requires close alignment with vehicle engineering and programme management. Supplier relationships span technical evaluation, development collaboration, and production ramp — making commercial and supply chain stakeholders equally important partners.

Question 10

How can I apply for the Sr. Manager, Battery Cell Engineering role at Rivian?

Accepted Answer

The role is listed on Electrified Future at https://electrified-future.com/jobs/jobs-rivian-sr-manager-battery-cell-engineering, where you can follow the direct application link to Rivian's careers portal. Rivian is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates requiring disability-related accommodations during the application process can contact Rivian at candidateaccommodations@rivian.com. The role was not expected to close before May 20, 2026, but candidates should apply promptly as the listing may close earlier.