Sr. EMC Test Engineer
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies · Irvine, California ·
- Work mode
- Hybrid
- Seniority
- Senior
- Employment
- Contract
- Category
- QA
- Experience
- 10+ years
- Visa sponsorship
- Yes
- Company size
- 501-1000
Senior engineer who plans, runs, and documents electromagnetic compatibility tests for automotive electronics, ensuring compliance with OEM specs like SAE J1113 and ISO 11452.
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.
We are looking for a Senior EMC Test Engineer to own our EMC validation programs for automotive electronic components and modules supplied to Rivian and Volkswagen Group. This role is accountable for the full cycle — writing test plans, making engineering disposition calls, and representing the company directly to OEM engineers.
The right candidate brings 10+ years of EMC testing and engineering experience in the automotive sector, with strong command of SAE J1113, ISO 11452, ISO 7637-2, CISPR 25, and relevant OEM specifications. We will also consider candidates from Aerospace (RTCA DO-160), Defense (MIL-STD-461), or Consumer Electronics (IEC 61000 series) backgrounds, provided they can demonstrate the engineering judgment and customer-facing maturity this role requires.
This is an individual contributor role with no direct reports. You will provide informal technical direction to senior and mid-level technicians on your programs.
Extract and interpret all applicable EMC requirements from OEM customer documents; author EMC Test Plans mapping requirements to test methods, test levels, DUT operating modes, monitoring criteria, and pass/fail criteria — with documented technical justification for any scope exclusions subject to OEM review.
Maintain EMC Test Plans currency through design revision cycles — revising EMC Test Plans in response to design changes, OEM specification updates, and engineering change requests (ECRs) to ensure test scope accurately reflects the current hardware configuration at all times.
Coordinate with Technical Program Managers and 3rd party test labs to schedule EMC milestones that align with DVP&R requirements and OEM program gates, flagging schedule risks early.
Author and issue final EMC Test Reports ready for direct OEM submission, and maintain revision control across all test plans and reports.
Review all test data on assigned programs, evaluate result validity and margin adequacy, and document formal dispositions — Pass, Fail, Deviation, or Retest Required — with clear technical rationale in the test record.
Separate real DUT failures from instrumentation artifacts, ambient noise, and test setup issues; apply measurement uncertainty analysis before making any borderline call.
Lead root cause analysis with the ECU Design team using signal path tracing, susceptibility frequency correlation, and emissions spectrum analysis; work with the EMC Design Engineer to determine retest scope following design changes.
Serve as the primary EMC technical contact for Rivian and Volkswagen Group on assigned programs — present test results and dispositions directly at design validation reviews and supplier technical review milestones.
Partner with the EMC Design Engineer to respond to OEM technical questions, audit findings, and non-conformance notices with technically accurate documentation, within required response windows.
Support PPAP with the EMC Design Engineer by compiling EMC compliance evidence packages, test report summaries, and engineering sign-offs to meet customer-specific PPAP level requirements.
Direct senior and mid-level technicians on test setup, DUT harness design, monitoring methodology, and pass/fail criterion application across all assigned programs.
Review and approve test harness designs, ground plane configurations, and load box assemblies before first-article testing to confirm they meet OEM harness geometry and standard configuration requirements.
Join bench-level testing on complex or first-article setups as the engineering decision-maker; make real-time calls to stop or modify testing when measurement system or setup issues threaten data validity.
EMI test receivers, spectrum analyzers, and RF signal chains (signal generator, amplifier, directional coupler, power meter, antenna) — independently configure receiver bandwidth, detector mode, and IF bandwidth; assess substitution loss, mismatch uncertainty, and calibration factors against standard requirements.
LISNs, CDNs, BCI clamps, injection probes, transient/pulse generators, and ESD simulators — validate configurations, assess measurement uncertainty contributions, verify waveform parameters, and identify setup deviations before data collection begins.
Semi-anechoic chambers and test benches — determine facility suitability for applicable test methods, frequency ranges, and OEM specification requirements.
EMC test automation platforms (NSG, EMC32, TILE!, or equivalent) — build, validate, and troubleshoot test sequences independently without relying on technicians for configuration.
Microsoft Office — produce OEM-quality test reports in Word; handle data reduction, statistical analysis, and uncertainty budgeting in Excel.
Python, MATLAB, or equivalent scripting for post-processing and report automation (preferred).
12V / 24V / 48V vehicle electrical systems — solid understanding of load dump, jump start, reverse battery, and alternator load behavior, and what each means for test severity and waveform selection.
Automotive communication protocols — CAN, CAN FD, LIN, Automotive Ethernet (100BASE-T1 / 1000BASE-T1), FlexRay — sufficient working knowledge to define monitoring criteria, recognize protocol anomalies under immunity stress, and evaluate FPC failures.
PCB EMC risk factors — ground plane topology, decoupling placement, critical net routing, and connector filtering — sufficient depth to conduct a meaningful pre-compliance layout review.
Additional Preferred Qualifications:
iNARTE EMC Engineer Certification — preferred as a concrete indicator of technical depth and commitment to the discipline.
EV / HEV high-voltage EMC experience (CISPR 12, UN ECE Regulation 10, SAE J551) and/or EMC simulation familiarity (ANSYS SIwave, CST Studio, ANSYS HFSS, or Hyperlynx) for participation in design review discussions.
The role splits time between lab bench work, engineering documentation, and in-person and virtual customer meetings. ESD-safe practices are required in all designated ESD-protected areas.
Regular exposure to RF fields within established safety limits; must be comfortable entering RF-shielded enclosures and anechoic chambers for test oversight.
Must be able to lift test equipment and fixtures up to 50 lbs. Estimated 25% travel to 3rd party test labs and OEM facilities.
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 (). If you are a current employee, please apply through our internal job board.
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are also committed to ensuring compliance with all applicable fair employment practice laws regarding citizenship and immigration status.
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 [email protected].
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies” may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) record keeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies affiliates; and (iii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies’ service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.
If you provide a mobile telephone number as part of your application or during the recruitment process, Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use that number to contact you via SMS text message for recruitment-related purposes, including scheduling, logistics, and status updates. Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out of SMS communications at any time by replying STOP to any text message you receive from us. Consent to receive SMS messages is not a condition of applying for or being considered for employment.
Please see our Candidate Data Privacy Notice (English) and Candidate Data Privacy Notice (Serbian) for more information.
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