field service technician

sales advisor

senior product engineer

senior software engineer

make ready technician

Rivian

Prior to the two months I worked at Rivian, I was excited for the opportunity I was being offered. During orientation, we were told of all the great things taking place at the factory. They claimed we would be able to move departments and told new hires that they value their workers and treat them well. 

However, they failed to mention at any point that the team/department I was coerced into works 12 hour shifts, 6 days a week. I was told I could work days, yet I was suddenly forced to work 4:30PM-3AM, Monday through Saturday with no opportunity to change shifts. We were promised a new schedule giving us 3-4 days off each week, but it was pushed back every time the specified date arrived. Any attempt to speak with HR about a department change was simply ignored. 

On top of only being given 60 hours of PSSL time with no option to take unpaid leave, management was riddled with instances of favoritism as well as general disdain for those working under them. 

In one specific incident, team members were provided with a packet that outlined changes to company policy regarding phones, sitting, etc. This packet also stated that team members must be given 48 hours notice of shift changes. No more than a week later, our team was informed that we would be working until 4AM or later for the next two shifts, making it clear that management doesn't feel that they are subject to the same rules as team members.

Constructive criticism does not exist at Rivian. Even when giving 110%, I often found myself being told I was "slacking" with no reason given and being blamed for issues that were not even remotely my fault. Management sacrifices quality for quantity when it comes to the output of vehicles and retaliates against their workers when higher ups take note of these issues. Cars with blatant defects are often still sent on to the floor for assembly. 

Machine breakdowns were a daily occurrence, often resulting in employees working on as little as 10 vehicles over the course of 12 hour overnight shifts if any vehicles get done at all. Additionally, sitting is not allowed. They brush this serious problem off by simply calling it "down time" and make no attempt to fix the issue.  

Finally, management consistently delegitimizes any concerns of this nature being raised by employees by simply saying "If you don't want to be here, leave". There are several employees including myself who sincerely needed the opportunity and couldn't afford to leave. This resulted in employees refusing to point out obvious problems and malpractice out of fear of retaliation. Management had no issue taking blatant advantage of this fact.

In short, I was extremely optimistic about Rivian, so much so that I compromised my own boundaries in hopes that things would get better. Unfortunately, they merely got worse with each shift, as management continuously tightened their grip on each worker. 

There is a truly frightening level of disregard for employees' lives, families or responsibilities outside of the factory and it saddens me to know that there are so many workers who have unwillingly given their livelihood to Rivian, simply because they were coerced into this situation and can't afford to leave. 

I started here at the very beginning when they hired the first round of End of line technicians. When I was interviewed for the job I asked very specific questions. Over time it turned out I was completely lied to about every single thing. They just needed qualified techs at the time and lied to make it sound Better to get them in the door. I worked at rivian for just shy of 3 years and saw everything you could think of ALL BAD THINGS! I went through 13 managers in the time I was there. Managers are constantly changing and getting kicked around. Once you and your department is getting used to a manager and things are going great they just kick them out and you have to start all over again. Nothing can ever get established or set in stone. They don’t care about you or how long you’ve been there, you are just a number and are replaceable. They don’t look at seniority. They don’t care about your health or safety , they only care about getting numbers out the door.  Management is absolutely worthless and clueless about everything going on there. They don’t know anything about the trucks or how anything works. A great portion of management just sits at there desk on there phone and does absolutely nothing for 12 hours and are completely useless. They should just kick out all the management and let the technicians run the show. Unfortunately the best technicians there that know what they are doing and are great workers get treated horribly. And the lazy technicians that have no skills whatsoever that sit there for 12hrs and do nothing don’t even get questioned or talked too. Everything that you would think is the correct way, rivian will do it the most backwards incorrect way possible. Unfortunately it seems like rivian is trying to push out the best technicians just so they can hire someone else at a lower wage to do more work. At the end of my career they were expecting us to train people who have never used a tool before or have never been in the automotive field to work on these electric trucks. Trust me , flipping a burger and performing electrical diagnostics on a $100,000 thousand dollar vehicle is not the same😂. There’s no training here, you get hired,  get thrown in and you pretty much just have to figure it out and try to learn from others if they even are willing to help. The best part about rivian is the pay, benefits, and most of the techs you work around make your day better when your having a good time. This is the best job for anyone who is single, has no life of family, and wants to make amazing money. Or it’s the best job ever if you don’t care about your family and have no life and wanna make money and live in the factory. This is only a few things horrible that I’ve witnessed. This place is a complete disaster and I could literally write a book on how many problems there are at rivian.

If you need solid pay and good benefits without the need for anything else, this is your place. 

If no one else has hired you in town, this is your place. 

If you you do not mind management that really has no idea about manufacturing, this is your place.

If you like to work and be berated and made to feel bad because you work, this is your place. ( if you don't work and want to be berated or made to feel bad, this is definitely not your place, slackers rule with no repercussions )

If you expect a different kind if manufacturing environment as promised in the recruitment process, this is not your place. 

If you want a different schedule every couple of months, with no say, this is your place.

Rivian promised many different things to get good workers that may not have been your "traditional " factory workers into the building. All of these workers have been for the most part turned over.  As a former employee with 20 months, I was definitely "OG". Employees now will begin to be OG with just a year, and anyone who makes it on the floor past a year will be rare.

As the title states, do not believe the hype. 

It is just a job, stressful if you care, a cake-walk if you don't. 

Just plan on knee-jerk reactions to anything that happens, that will most likely result in a waste of time and manpower. A sense of urgency for production with no regard to anything but production to pass it down the line.

Just know you are getting a decent wage, good benefits and absolutely nothing else.

 The days you work, you'll do nothing but work. You will barely eat or sleep, just get ready to work again.

The days you don't work will be at least one in recovery from work and one to get ready to work. 

Just know what you are getting into,  as what I ended with was 180° from what I was promised.  

If you can deal with that, no problems,  just expect; lies, mismanagement,  shifting priorities, bad morale, redoing things 2-3-4 times, moving pallets (from one area back to another, back to the starting area), dealing with the same problems over and over again, handle working in a shop that OSHA would have a field day in, relying on yourself for daily safety (because no one else does) and throw a little nepotism on top....this is your place.


My experience over the span of about a year in their battery department was quite a rollercoaster. There is no end to the long weeks, and you must have minimal amounts of personal time outside of the job. Despite the large amounts of time you are at the plant, roughly 50-70hrs a week, there isn't much actual work to do.
I would recommend getting to know the leads and supervisors well and ask them many questions, because not many know what actually goes on around them. Be careful though, there are leaders that have very little care for your well being, and more about the total numbers for the day.
The facilities are top end, as any Cali based tech company is. They have a full working cafeteria, with cycling meals throughout the week, as well as cold items in their refrigerant wall.
Culture wise there seems to be a disconnect between management, and line workers. Those that worked the ladder into leadership tend to be more open and friendly towards others, and highly recommend getting to know them. There have been a handful of leaders that have been picked out of different companies such as Tesla. (No hate towards Tesla) I would take high caution towards these individuals, as their success at the previous job dropped, they ran themselves out to apply it to Rivian. (There's a reason why they left the previous job!)
Not all is bad at Rivian. I learned a great amount on how the batteries are developed, and put together. I talked with the few on site engineers about their work, and how they got to where they are. As many engineering positions at Rivian are "At Home," the ones that are on site are incredible to pick their brains. If you at all are interested in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, but are unsure about schooling or desire, talk to these people!

The best place I can describe this place is false advertising. I was preached to during orientation about a 40 hour work week and voluntary overtime. As soon as you hit the floor you learn that it's nothing more than a sales pitch. Before you know it, overtime is mandatory and practically every single day. You will either work 6 10s in a row or 6 12s in a row. The schedule is inconsistent and unpredictable. It is basically impossible to plan anything outside of your work life. Your family time will go out the window, and this environment could easily destroy your marriage. The PTO and PSSL that's given is so hard to use without proper documentation. They make it extremely difficult to take time off on purpose so the time off you have is literally pointless. You have to covid test literally every single day. During a 10 or 12 hour shift most stations only give 2 10 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch. That means nothing because half of the 50 minutes given you will be walking back and forth for at least 25 of them  so really you only get 25 minutes to yourself during a whole shift. The workforce is extremely toxic and managers often like to play favoritism and treat others unfairly if they don't like you. Moving up has become more difficult. Half the technology in here barely works. Constant down time and frustration. Engineers never listen to advice from employees. The company only cares about the money and pushing product out the door period. They will punish you and force overtime when there's too much downtime. There is very few redeeming qualities of working at rivian and ultimately it's just not worth it.

Rivian is an aspirational brand and company that offers those who seek purpose, a home. Next to Tesla, they are the next most likely to succeed in being a new fully EV automaker to come online. Ultimately, I believe they won't make it. Once you arrive, the dream is quickly shattered by the nonsensical processes, the constant changing procedures, structure, staff and objectives. Every 6 months, you'll need to relearn your job because all the tools have changed, the teams have changed and the relationships you have built need to be reset.

VP's are constantly being fired and replaced so every one of them sacrifice their teams to save themselves. Professional mentorship and development is non-existent. You won't be coached, only blamed. Employees post-pone weddings, post-pone vacations, cancel honeymoons and don't make any long term financial plans (buying cars or homes) because anyone can be fired at the next layoff, historically every 2-6 months.

Unless  the CEO is replaced and management team restructured. Unless funding is no longer convertible notes and private VC's. Unless a larger organization with deep pockets absorbs them (like Apple or Amazon). Unless you have no other choice and you need any job. Unless the Georgia plant is back on track and the numbers towards profitability actually make sense. DO NOT WORK HERE.

Started here 3 years ago, saw good growth and good recognition. Salary never caught up to expanding work responsibilities and level, neither did stock refreshers. But still, I enjoyed my work and saw a tangible product being formed under my eyes, and I got to be a part of it!

While wlb was always crazy, it became untenable when the work itself became paper pushing for idiot program managers and their ilk. Add to it process heavy departments and the insurgence of beancounters post-IPO, and this is a pretty awful place to be. Depressed every day when logging into work.

I've made great talented friends and professional connections here, but they're mostly gone to greener pastures. This is no longer an environment that nurtures innovation, emptahy, and excellence. Political backstabbing and yes-men all the way. HR is spineless.

Might have a large layoff and recalibrate culture eventually, but expect significant attrition in near future.

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing the Rivian, and I am incredibly impressed with both the vehicle and the expertise of the Rivian engineering team. From the moment I set eyes on the Rivian R1T, I was captivated by its sleek design and innovative features. The build quality is exceptional, showcasing the attention to detail and craftsmanship that Rivian is known for.

Driving the Rivian was an absolute delight. The electric powertrain delivered smooth and powerful acceleration, making every drive a joy. The vehicle handled beautifully on a variety of terrains, thanks to its advanced suspension system and off-road capabilities. I felt confident and in control, whether on city streets or rugged trails.

What truly stood out to me was the dedication and knowledge of the Rivian engineers. I had the opportunity to speak with one of their top engineers, and it was clear that they are passionate about creating a sustainable and high-performing vehicle. They took the time to explain the intricacies of the Rivian’s technology, from the battery management system to the regenerative braking.

Their expertise and commitment to excellence are evident in every aspect of the Rivian. It’s not just a vehicle; it’s a testament to what is possible when innovation and sustainability come together. I highly recommend experiencing Rivian for yourself.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The benefits and the pay. They also give you some e trade stocks that are nice as well.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Always constantly having someone on you saying something. Everyone feels like they have to make a name for themselves and team leads and group leads often treat their team members nastily in the process of trying to prove to their managers that they are hard assess or able to do their jobs. Everyone looking for a promotion and everyone’s attitudes sucky ok. No one ever happy because no one is really treated fairly. A lot of racism and a lot of discrimination as well. They could do so much better than they’re doing. It’s not right. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It’s scary. It’s hot. People are rude, entitled, angry all the time. The mission is good, but most people don’t even follow Rj’s mission. It’s sad. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Come in. Be on time and not a minute late or you get wrote up. Deal with co workers attitudes and them being angry about where their places on their line. Deal with managers not caring cause it’s your job and that’s that. It’s hard to even get a lunch in depending where you are in the plant and whether your back or not that line is moving with or without you.

Rivian is the one company that will throw glitter and colorful rainbows at you to make you believe it’s a wonderful place to work. They will entice you with what appears to be some grand adventure and amazing dream that you are about to be part of. An then when your through the doors and on the production floor you are surrounded by unhappy employees who are sad, mad, and ready to leave, but are so broke and in debt they can’t leave because it would mean giving up one of the few jobs that pay half way decent for not having a degree. So the company uses that leverage as tool to treat people poorly work them exceedingly long hours and long work weeks. While my brief stint at RIvian. I was told I work 4-ten hour days. An then have 3 days off. In the contract I signed with them. Upon making it out of orientation I was told within the first 5 minutes I was working 6- ten hour days. With 1 day off. After awhile i became a relief because other areas were working. 6-12hour days. 
                   Too anyone who needs a job you can find one there, but do not expect a home life and do not believe anything they say regarding schedules. I worked 4 different schedules within 10 months of being there. I no longer work there

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Field service technician 385 salaries reported	$32.01 per hour
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Senior product engineer 225 salaries reported	$23.82 per hour
Senior software engineer 55 salaries reported	$169,728 per year
Make ready technician 203 salaries reported	$21.44 per hour

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