Rivian Automation / Controls Engineer Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 13 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at Rivian.
Rivian
Controls Engineer
Mid Average Positive experience No offer 8 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Onsite Presentation Technical screen Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Presentation Coding
Recruiter reached out on LinkedIn. The whole thing took about two weeks. Had an initial phone screen which felt like a sales pitch, then they brought me in for what they called a "PowerDay," which was a full day, super long and exhausting. It started with a 45-min HR chat about company values, then another 45 mins on Perception, followed by a 45-min lunch that was also a vibe check. After that, it was 60 mins with the Systems team, a 45-min technical presentation, a 90-min Controls interview, and a 45-min session on Path Planning, ending with a 15-min wrap-up.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Can you discuss your past work experience?
- What is the effect of a degrading inner feedback loop in a controller?
- Using root locus or bode plots, explain the consequences of worsening characteristics in a controller's inner feedback loop.
Rivian
Automation Controls Engineer
Mid Average Negative experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
Heard mixed things about Rivian's interview process. I made it to the second screening but then never heard back, which was a bummer – I'd at least expect an update. The interviews themselves were generally good. I felt I did great on the first one, but the second interviewer seemed disengaged or maybe not that knowledgeable. Both interviews felt like comfortable conversations. The second one was more technical but not overly difficult. My main frustration is the lack of follow-up, which I don't think reflects well on a company like this.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Questions about controls architecture.
- Questions about ERPs.
- Questions regarding SQL and database handling.
Rivian
Controls Engineer
Senior Easy Negative experience No offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Onsite
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Case
The interview process was quick and not difficult, but the team wasn't sure what they were looking for. The recruiter and other team members were great, though the manager came off as rude. I saw really good candidates get rejected just for not fitting the Rivian culture. Plus, they wouldn't even let you know if you got the job or not unless you emailed them again.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Can you walk me through your professional background?
- Describe a situation where you encountered a problem and how you handled it.
- Walk me through your experience with case-based scenarios and behavioral questions.
Rivian Automation / Controls Engineer Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from Rivian interview reports.
“What is the effect of a degrading inner feedback loop in a controller?”
Read reports →“What are the three methods for assessing vehicle performance using tire data?”
Read reports →“What are some fundamental concepts in control systems?”
Read reports →“What are the fundamental concepts in Control Engineering?”
Read reports →“Could you elaborate on the mathematical principles behind control systems?”
Read report →“When can you start working”
Read report →“Can you tell me about your knowledge of Rivian?”
Read report →“What technical knowledge do you have regarding controls engineering?”
Read report →“Could you introduce yourself?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 13 Rivian interview reports.