Staff Software Systems Engineer

About Us

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between two industry leaders with a clear vision for automotive’s next chapter. From operating systems to zonal controllers to cloud and connectivity solutions, we’re addressing the challenges of electric vehicles through technology that will set the standards for software-defined vehicles around the world.

The road to the future is uncharted. By combining our expertise across connectivity, AI, security and more, we’ll map a new way forward. Working together, we’ll create a future that’s more connected, more intelligent, more sustainable for everyone.

Role Summary

As a Staff Software Quality Engineer, you will own the definition, implementation, and continuous improvement of RV Tech’s software quality framework across vehicle programs. You will work at the intersection of engineering rigor and cross-functional collaboration - partnering directly with software development teams, domain architects, and program leadership to embed quality practices into every stage of the software lifecycle. This is a hands-on technical role that requires both the depth to define measurable quality standards and the influence to drive adoption across a large, fast-moving organization.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the software quality framework for RV Tech, code coverage standards, static analysis policy, and release quality gates, ensuring consistent application across Rivian and VWG vehicle programs.

• Lead the adoption and enforcement of static code analysis standards across firmware and software domains; define violation justification workflows and manage burndown plans aligned to program milestones.

• Define and drive code coverage standards for newly developed code, including CI/CD pipeline integration, threshold enforcement policy, and deviation handling.

• Partner with software development leads, domain engineers, and program managers to translate quality requirements into actionable engineering plans with clear milestones and accountability.

• Identify and surface quality risks early; own escalation paths and drive mitigation strategies that protect program schedules and product integrity.

• Collaborate with VWG/Rivian counterparts to align quality processes, tooling, and metrics across the joint venture, ensuring a unified standard for software-defined vehicle delivery.

• Champion quality as a shared engineering discipline - develop documentation, how-to guides, and training materials that build team-wide capability and reduce dependency on centralized QA.

• Expertise in defining scalable and reconfigurable safety software architectures that prioritize modularity, enabling seamless reuse and adaptation across diverse vehicle platforms.

• Proficiency in C/C++, Rust, and Kotlin, with experience in Android platform development.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or a closely related technical field.

• 6+ years of experience in software quality engineering, with demonstrated ownership of quality frameworks in a complex embedded or systems software environment.

• Hands-on experience with static analysis tools and coding standards (e.g., MISRA C).

• Strong understanding of code coverage concepts and CI/CD pipeline integration for quality gate enforcement.

• Proven ability to define quality metrics, build dashboards, and communicate data-driven insights to technical and executive audiences.

• Experience working across large cross-functional organizations, with a track record of influencing without direct authority.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the automotive industry, with familiarity with vehicle software development processes and program milestones (e.g., FM gates, SOP).

• Knowledge of functional safety standards (ISO 26262) and their implications for software testing and structural coverage requirements.

• Familiarity with cybersecurity (R155/CSMS) or OTA/software update management (R156/SUMS) regulatory frameworks.

• Experience with requirements management and traceability tools (e.g., JAMA, Polarion).

• Proficiency with data pipeline and dashboard tooling (e.g., Databricks, Datadog, Grafana) for centralized quality reporting.

• Prior experience in a joint venture or multi-stakeholder environment, with demonstrated ability to align teams across organizational boundaries.

• Prior JV or multi-stakeholder org experience — aligning teams across company boundaries

• AI Literacy: Familiarity with AI-driven development, including a basic understanding of agents, AI skills, and the application of AI tools to enhance engineering productivity and quality workflows.

Total Rewards

We build the exceptional — and we believe the people doing that work should be rewarded accordingly. In addition to a competitive base salary, full-time positions may be is eligible to participate in our annual company performance bonus program.

Payments are discretionary and not guaranteed; actual amounts depend on company results and the terms of the plan in effect, and require active employment at the time of payout. This role is also eligible for equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), subject to board approval and the terms of our equity incentive plans, including applicable vesting requirements.

In addition to our compensation programs, we invest in our people with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, wellbeing, and financial future for full-time employees — including health coverage, retirement savings, time off, and family planning programs. Offerings vary by country. Learn more about our global benefit programs .

External candidates can apply for this role through the Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies careers site ( https://rivianvw.tech/#careers ). If you are a current employee, please apply through our internal job board .

Equal Opportunity

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies 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 candidateaccommodations@rivian.com.