Rivian Mechanical Engineer Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 19 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at Rivian.
Rivian
Mechanical Design Engineer
Senior Difficult Neutral experience Accept offer 5 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Onsite Panel Presentation Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Presentation
Started with a recruiter call, who was super helpful in explaining the role and even discussed relocation since the job is in California. Next was a technical interview with the hiring manager, mostly about my background and what I'm looking for. Then came a whole day of interviews with the team, some in panels and some 1:1s with people from my discipline and others. The final interview was with the engineering director, which involved a technical thought exercise. After that, I got a verbal offer, and the written one was expected in about two weeks due to internal approvals. The whole thing took around 3 months from the first call to the written offer.
Confirmed questions1 question
- For a part that has to handle specific conditions (X, Y, Z), what's your process for choosing the right material?
Rivian
Mechanical Engineer Intern
Intern Average Positive experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Onsite Presentation Panel
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Presentation Group
I had two interviews. The first one was a mix of behavioral questions and some technical ones about my resume. The second interview was longer, about an hour, and it was a panel-style interview. It started with a 15-minute presentation, followed by 45 minutes of Q&A. They usually ask about something from your resume during that Q&A part.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Describe a situation where a team project you were involved in did not succeed.
- Tell me about a time you worked on a team and encountered a problem.
- Can you share an instance from your resume where a team effort faced challenges and didn't work out?
Rivian
Mechanical Engineer
Mid Average Negative experience Decline offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Onsite Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
I had a total of 7 hours of interviews and spoke with the Director of Engineering. I felt like I did really well. All the feedback I got made it seem like a job offer was coming. But then the HR person kept me hanging, telling me to check in every two weeks because they were 'reviewing headcount.' This went on for nearly 2 months until I realized what was happening and stopped asking. Seriously, if there's no position, just tell the candidate instead of wasting everyone's time. Now, 8 months later, the lead of the team I interviewed with reached out on LinkedIn. No way am I going to work for a company that disrespected my time like that. Being clear and honest during interviews really matters if you want to keep doors open with potential candidates.
Confirmed questions4 questions
- Can you share an example of a challenging situation you encountered during a project and how you successfully navigated it?
- Describe a time you had to deal with a difficult colleague. What steps did you take?
- Tell me about a project where you had to juggle several priorities. How did you ensure everything was completed on time?
Rivian Mechanical Engineer Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from Rivian interview reports.
“What is your understanding of the type of glass used in sunroofs?”
Read reports →“What are the design criteria you'd consider for a sunroof?”
Read reports →“What makes you want to join Rivian?”
Read reports →“What are the company values?”
Read reports →“For a part that has to handle specific conditions (X, Y, Z), what's your process for choosing the right material?”
Read report →“Can you tell me about a random mechanical engineering question?”
Read report →“Describe a situation where a team project you were involved in did not succeed.”
Read report →“How do you align with Rivian's culture?”
Read report →“Can you discuss your academic history?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 19 Rivian interview reports.