Rivian · 1 day ago
Principal Recruiter, Autonomy
US-CA-Palo Alto
Full-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff
10+ years expRivian is an innovative automotive company focused on electric vehicles and autonomy. The Principal Recruiter for Autonomy will play a critical role in designing and executing hiring strategies for top AI and Machine Learning talent, partnering with leadership to build a high-performing team in self-driving technology.
AutomotiveElectric VehicleManufacturingTransportation
Responsibilities
Act as a talent consultant to Autonomy leadership, providing real-time market intelligence, compensation trends, and competitive landscape analysis
Manage the end-to-end recruitment process for Senior, Staff, Principal, and Distinguished-level engineers in AI, ML, Computer Vision, and Robotics
Lead initiatives to remove "process debt" and implement AI-driven workflows to streamline technical assessments and candidate engagement
Build and maintain a long-term pipeline of passive "top 1%" talent from top-tier research labs, academia, and industry competitors
Elevate the broader TA team by sharing best practices in technical sourcing, storytelling, and high-stakes closing
Qualification
Required
10+ years of full-cycle technical recruiting experience, with at least 5+ years dedicated to AI, Machine Learning, Autonomy, Robotics, or related deep-tech domains
Demonstrated domain fluency across the AI/ML ecosystem, including familiarity with: Frameworks and tooling (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow)
Specialized hardware (e.g., GPUs, TPUs, accelerators)
Distinctions between ML Infrastructure, Data/Platform, and Perception/Planning/Controls roles
Proven track record of successfully hiring Senior, Staff, Principal, and Distinguished-level engineers in highly competitive markets
Experience influencing VP- and Director-level stakeholders, including driving improvements in hiring standards, interview design, and talent strategy
Strong data literacy: ability to use recruiting data to diagnose funnel friction, inform trade-offs, and drive changes in process or bar
Demonstrated ability to thrive in ambiguity, manage competing priorities, and operate with urgency in a fast-moving environment
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the capacity to translate complex technical work into compelling candidate narratives
Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience
Preferred
Experience recruiting for Autonomous Vehicles, Robotics, Advanced Perception, Planning, Mapping/Localization, or large-scale ML infrastructure teams
Prior experience in high-growth or frontier tech environments (EV, AV, deep tech, or large-scale AI platforms)
Demonstrated ability to build from scratch: processes, interview loops, calibration tools, and market maps for new technical domains
Genuine curiosity for AI research, autonomy advances, and emerging tooling, including habitually following conferences, arXiv, and technical blogs
Company
Rivian
Rivian is an automotive technology company that develops products and services to advance the shift to sustainable mobility.
10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$21.93BKey Investors
Volkswagen GroupUS Department of EnergyIllinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
2025-06-30Post Ipo Equity· $1B
2024-11-25Post Ipo Debt· $6.6B
2024-05-02Grant· $827M
Leadership Team
Robert Scaringe
Chief Executive Officer
Claire McDonough
Chief Financial Officer
Recent News
Benzinga.com
2026-01-13
The Motley Fool
2026-01-13
Morningstar.com
2026-01-12
Company data provided by crunchbase