Principal Recruiter, Autonomy

About Rivian

Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract. As a company, we constantly challenge what's possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations.

About The Role: Principal Recruiter, Autonomy

As a Principal Recruiter for Autonomy, you will be the strategic engine behind Rivian's most critical technical vertical. This is a high-impact individual contributor role designed for a 'heavy hitter' who understands that landing world-class AI and Machine Learning talent requires more than just standard sourcing—it demands deep technical fluency, a consultative mindset, and the ability to navigate the most competitive talent markets in history.

You will partner directly with the leaders of our Autonomy team to design and execute a hiring strategy that raises the bar for talent density. Your role is not just about filling seats; it is about architecting the team that will define the future of self-driving technology, shaping innovations that will impact millions of lives worldwide.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• 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 such as PyTorch and TensorFlow.
• Knowledge of specialized hardware including GPUs, TPUs, and accelerators.
• Understanding of distinctions between ML Infrastructure, Data/Platform, and Perception/Planning/Controls roles.
• Proven success in hiring senior technical talent at the engineer, staff, principal, and distinguished levels 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 with the ability to analyze recruiting metrics, identify bottlenecks, and implement process improvements.
• Ability to thrive in ambiguous environments, manage competing priorities, and operate with urgency in a fast-paced setting.
• Excellent communication skills, with the capacity to translate complex technical work into compelling candidate narratives.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience recruiting for Autonomous Vehicles, Robotics, Perception, Planning, Mapping/Localization, or large-scale ML infrastructure teams.
• Prior experience in high-growth or frontier technology environments, including electric vehicles, autonomous systems, deep tech, or large-scale AI platforms.
• Ability to build recruitment processes from scratch, including interview loops, calibration tools, and market mapping for emerging technical domains.
• Genuine curiosity for AI research, autonomy advancements, and emerging tooling, with active engagement in industry conferences, arXiv, and technical blogs.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Advisory: Act as a trusted talent consultant to Autonomy leadership, providing real-time market intelligence, compensation trends, and competitive landscape insights to inform hiring strategies.
• Full-Cycle Execution: Manage the complete recruitment process for senior engineering roles, including sourcing, interviewing, and closing candidates at the senior, staff, principal, and distinguished levels in AI, ML, Computer Vision, and Robotics.
• Process Innovation: Lead initiatives to eliminate 'process debt' by streamlining workflows, implementing AI-driven assessments, and enhancing candidate engagement strategies.
• Sourcing Excellence: Build and maintain a robust pipeline of passive top-tier talent from research labs, academia, and industry competitors to ensure a continuous flow of high-caliber candidates.
• Mentorship: Share best practices and elevate the capabilities of the broader Talent Acquisition team through mentorship in technical sourcing, storytelling, and high-stakes closing techniques.

Benefits

Rivian offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support our employees' well-being and professional growth. This includes competitive compensation, health insurance options, retirement plans, paid time off, and opportunities for continuous learning and development. We foster a collaborative and innovative work environment that encourages creativity, ownership, and impact. Additionally, Rivian promotes work-life balance and provides resources to support a healthy lifestyle, including wellness programs and flexible work arrangements where applicable.

Equal Opportunity

Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. 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 or domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Rivian 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 [contact email].

Key skills/competency

• Technical Recruiting (AI/ML/Autonomy)
• Strategic Sourcing
• Candidate Closing
• Stakeholder Influence
• Market Intelligence
• Data Literacy (Recruiting Metrics)
• Process Innovation
• Deep Technical Fluency
• Pipeline Management
• Mentorship