Sr. Safety Engineer

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 Safety Engineer – Material Flow & Logistics Safety serves as the corporate technical expert for material handling, facilities logistics, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and custom automation systems. Based out of the Normal, IL campus, this role has a global scope—governing standards, conducting Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), and performing risk assessments for new equipment builds, retrofits, and facility expansions across all manufacturing plants, R&D facilities, tech centers, and non-manufacturing sites. The ideal candidate brings extensive hands-on experience in logistics risk assessments, man-machine interaction design, and automated transport safety. You will oversee compliance with industrial safety standards (ANSI/ITSDF B56.5, ANSI/RIA R15.08, ISO 12100), evaluate automated transport architectures, and build a scalable enterprise-wide logistics safety framework that ensures safe operation across shared human and automated spaces. This role is located in Normal, Illinois (On-site base with up to 40% domestic and international travel, supporting global manufacturing and non-manufacturing facilities) Responsibilities 1. Material Flow & Logistics Safety Governance Lead risk evaluations (ISO 12100, ANSI B11, ANSI/RIA R15.08, ANSI/ITSDF B56.5) focusing specifically on facilities logistics, material handling routes, and dynamic man-machine interactions. Define, implement, and audit safety parameters for shared worker/vehicle spaces, including pedestrian segregation, dynamic speed monitoring, optical sensing, dock safety, and physical/virtual containment. Specify, validate, and audit safety hardware and software systems (LiDAR scanners, safety PLCs, presence-sensing devices, emergency stops, safe-motion drives) on automated guided vehicles and mobile platform systems. Architect, standardize, and deploy enterprise-wide facilities and logistics safety frameworks (e.g., Mobile Equipment & Pedestrian Safety - MEPS) across all production lines and distribution hubs. 2. Project Lifecycle, FAT/SAT & Equipment Buyoff Travel (up to 40%) to vendor facilities for Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) to ensure systems meet Technical Safety Standards and local/international codes before shipment. Lead Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) and functional safety buyoffs for new and modified machinery, conveyance, automated storage/retrieval systems (ASRS), and AGV fleets across global facilities. Partner early with Material Flow Engineering, Facilities, Manufacturing Engineering, and Integrators during initial layout and design phases to embed safety into Scope of Work (SOW) and procurement packages. 3. Technical Standards & General Machine Safety Maintain, refine, and enforce internal machine safety and equipment standards across logistics and manufacturing operations. Support machine guarding, control-reliable safety circuits (ISO 13849 / ANSI B11.26), Control of Hazardous Energies (CoHE/LOTO), and robotic cell safety assessments across campus and site operations. Provide cross-functional machine safety support for specialized equipment across global production shops in coordination with site Subject Matter Experts. 4. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Governance Collaborate with Maintenance, Operations EHS, and Shop Safety Leads to execute Safety Buyoff processes, transferring equipment safely from project phase to daily operational ownership. Investigate technical safety