# Sr. Thermal Controls Systems Engineers at Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies

> Onsite · United States · Senior · Software engineering · open. Source: https://alderhq.app/jobs/ashby%3Arivianvw.tech%3A217f06b2-0eec-4ff6-b01b-8b326bccc282 (read 2026-11-07).

## Facts (observed)

- Company: [Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies](https://alderhq.app/companies/rivian-and-volkswagen-group-technologies)
- Location text: Irvine, California
- Where it can be done from (inferred): Onsite · United States (evidence: "Location: Irvine, California")
- Posted: 2026-11-06 (0 days ago)
- First seen by alder: 2026-11-06 · last verified: 2026-11-06
- Reposted: 0 times · edited: 0 times
- Apply on the employer's site: https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/rivianvw.tech/217f06b2-0eec-4ff6-b01b-8b326bccc282
- Skills listed (inferred): Python

## Pay and sponsorship

- Posted pay: $135k–$203k per year (from the listing's pay field)
- Market band for similar posted roles (Los Angeles, n 505): p25 $155k, median $167k, p75 $185k
- H-1B filings at this company for similar roles, FY26: 90, median offered wage $165k ([US DOL OFLC LCA disclosure data](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/performance))

## Description (the employer's text)

### About Us

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.

Job Description:

Work with the Thermal Control System team which develops advanced algorithms to optimize thermal management for our powertrains, battery packs using heat pumps, and cabin HVAC systems. Collaborate with designers, engineers, manufacturing teams, firmware developers, and service personnel, leveraging your expertise in thermal and controls engineering to define requirements for embedded software implementation. Collaborate with Vehicle Attributes and Hardware Development engineers to ensure subsystems are designed with appropriate requirements, interfaces, and interactions for specific vehicle functions. Translate high-level feature requests into detailed controller software, sensor, and actuator requirements, driving implementation, testing, and release. Research and analyze various control algorithms and develop control-oriented simulation models to refine control strategies. Create and maintain system boundary diagrams, function allocation documents, state machines, and sequence diagrams. Develop and maintain controller FMEA, conduct fault tree analysis, and support functional safety requirement development. Design test cases for controller validation and monitor test coverage across HIL, SIL, and vehicle- level testing.

Minimum Requirements:

Master’s degree or foreign equivalent in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or a closely related field and 1 year of experience in any occupation as thermal development and analysis engineer. Experience must include working with control systems fundamentals and their application to the thermal domain; heat transfer and thermodynamics with familiarity in heat exchangers, compressors, valves, pumps, fans, and their subsystem interactions; developingcontrol-oriented dynamic system models of thermal and hydraulic; using MATLAB, Simulink, and Python; and test case development for SIL, HIL, vehicle level tests and data analysis.

#LI-DNI

### Total Rewards

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 (https://rivianvw.tech/#careers). If you are a current employee, please apply through our internal job board.

### Equal Opportunity

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.

---
Data: alder (https://alderhq.app). Cite https://alderhq.app/jobs/ashby%3Arivianvw.tech%3A217f06b2-0eec-4ff6-b01b-8b326bccc282 and the date you read it. Observed facts come from the employer's own listing; location reach, level, family and skills are inferences.
