Hiring: Staff Durability CAE Engineer, Explicit Dynamics Company: Rivian Location: Irvine, CA Job Posted Time: 2026-09-10 10:28:30 Employment Type: Full-time Target Skills & Keywords : MATLAB, Python About the job Experience: •3-5 year period) •5+ years of relevant experience in automotive CAE/Durability. •3 years No more than 1 serious moving violation in the last 3 years Required Skills: •Lead Explicit Dynamics Simulation: Lead the setup, execution, and analysis of complex, full-vehicle explicit dynamic simulations using LS-DYNA. •Underbody ground strike (step down impact, rock scrape impact, breakover impact, approach/departure impact & sand dune impact). •Extreme strength load cases (curb drive-over, ditch drop, lateral curb strike). •Implement & Calibrate Material Failure Definition: Implement & manage LS-DYNA material cards (e.g. *MAT_024, *MAT_GISSMO) with a critical focus on plasticity and failure parameters to accurately replicate ductile failure and erosion in the vehicle structure. •Ensure Simulation Quality: Critically review explicit simulation results, meticulous checking of energy plots, mass scaling, and solution parameters to ensure numerical stability and accuracy. •Correlation and Validation: Drive the correlation of simulation models with physical test data, working to accurately replicate real-world behavior in the virtual environment. •Support Physical Testing: Collaborate closely with the physical testing team, providing expertise to assist in appropriate test setup, instrumentation, and boundary condition definition. •Optimize and Improve Efficiency: Proactively work on methods and techniques to optimize LS-DYNA run times for large, full-vehicle models without compromising accuracy. Qualifications: •Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or equivalent, with 5+ years of relevant experience in automotive CAE/Durability. •Deep expertise in explicit finite element analysis (FEA), with extensive, hands-on experience using LS-DYNA for full-vehicle dynamic simulations. •Expert-level understanding of explicit simulation requirements, including checking energy plots (e.g., kinetic, internal, hourglass), time step control, and mass scaling. •Strong foundational understanding of vehicle suspension systems and overall vehicle dynamics behavior. •Proven ability to correlate simulation models to physical test data. •Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, specifically in creating high-quality technical reports. •Proficiency in pre-processing tools like ANSA and/or Hypermesh is a plus. •Operational familiarity with scripting languages (Python, MATLAB) for post-processing and automation is a plus. •No driving related suspensions or revocation of Driver License (within a 3-5 year period) •No drug or alcohol related driving incidents in the last 3 years Compensation: •$154,000 - $192,500 / year •The successful candidate may be eligible for annual performance bonus and equity awards Interested candidates, please apply directly through the job posting on company's career page or try via AI auto apply on this platform. Don't miss this opportunity to join a forward-thinking team!