Manager, Automation Controls Engineering (Battery)

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.

Summary The Manager, Automation Controls Engineering – Equipment Engineering, leads day to day efforts of our Equipment Engineering controls team in the Battery manufacturing shop across all production shifts. The role is located in Normal, IL. The position reports directly to the Director, Engineering and Maintenance.

Managing the day-to-day operations of a team of automation engineers that support production and improvements to hardware and software involved in the manufacturing processes. Lead teams that maintain, modify, and properly version control equipment programs, configuration files, and documentation as changes are implemented. This includes but is not limited to hardware, electrical, safety, pneumatic, network, PLC, HMI, Vision, Robot, SCADA, and MES. Serve as authority on technical issues and make difficult trade-offs between key program benchmarks. Respond to escalations for critical production downtimes across shifts and reallocate resources as needed and support on technical gaps Assist with RFQ preparation and review vendor proposals for manufacturing automation equipment ranging in size from single work cells to entire lines. Lead equipment buy-offs at Rivian’s factory in Normal, IL for FAT, SAT, and safety. Guide the development of controls standards and specifications by feeding back lessons-learned and gaps from each project to ensure that future projects will run smoother. Partner with maintenance and process engineering to drive continuous improvement of the production lines by reducing cycle time, reducing downtime, increasing availability, and improving quality. Add or remove network devices from the equipment as needed, updating network switch configurations as needed. Lead emphasis writing code that is organized, structured, documented, maintainable and reusable. Troubleshoot, improve, and add features to HMIs to make them more user-friendly, intuitive and suitable for operating and troubleshooting equipment. Implement and make modifications to MES logic for production and performance management in the PLCs and HMIs. Ensure proper implementation of and modifications to (ANSI/RIA15.06/OSHA compliant) control reliable safety systems for safeguarding robots, gantries, conveyors, and other high volume manufacturing equipment. Support in the development and upskilling of the team to close identified technical gaps and improve team performance Qualifications BS/MS Electrical Engineering (or equivalent – Majors in: Controls and Computer Control Systems, Mechatronic Engineering, Automation Engineering, etc. Experience managing teams of Controls Automation Engineers Skilled with Vendor and Project Management tools (JIRA, Confluence) Exceptional verbal and written communication skills Demonstrate composure and leadership by example in challenging situations - ability to drive complex projects to successful implementation while keeping cross functional teams focused and motivated Ability to lead and follow appropriately – balance ownership and delegation across teams of focusing leaders and decision makers on technology trends, tools, and strategies Expert with common controls hardware components used in high-volume manufacturing. Hands-on experience integrating high volume manufacturing equipment. In-depth knowledge of Safety standards (ANSI/RIA15.06, OSHA). Experience leading safety design reviews and validating equipment safeties during buy-off. In-depth