Pros
The mission: We're building not just one, but *three* carbon zero vehicles. I am thrilled to contribute to an organization that doesn't just want to make beautiful products, but also believes it is a moral imperative to do right by our planet. The people: Coming from other industries, I adjusted to the cynical and jaded attitude that came with the territory. Arriving at Rivian was a breath of fresh air--immediately I felt the warmth of midwestern hospitality (Plymouth is currently our largest population out of our offices). Most folks are decent, kind, and empathetic. In my first week I received an email from a colleague who I had yet to meet in person, saying they were glad I was here (and I'm not ashamed to admit that I cried upon reading). Leadership: Getting to know, and work closely with, senior leadership has offered me firsthand accounts of how much this cohort cares about the people on their teams. I have personally felt incredibly welcome by senior leadership, and have only seen a willingness to engage and communicate. Their intentions cannot be doubted, but Rivian's leadership capabilities are being tested (more on that in "cons"). Accountability: The external narrative around recent leadership changes might make our environment seem more unstable than it really is. Unlike most companies that espouse a "sports team" mentality, Rivian truly lives it. We will not have misaligned or problematic leaders (even those with "C" in their title) overstay their welcome. Even though the short-term disruption of these changes are felt and non-negligible, they will help to ensure the long-term health of Rivian. I can see how these kinds of changes (even when necessary) can be jarring, but I personally only see the upside in decisive leadership changes. The work: This is a place where I believe I can make a difference (this is less about my own confidence and almost entirely about how incredibly supportive my colleagues are!). I've been enabled to chart my course and have not yet run into commonly frustrating roadblocks like headcount restrictions, oppressive budgets, or micromanagement. Having said that, your mileage may vary here. I'm very fortunate to work on a team that's very enabled, but I have the sense this is potentially less true in other parts of the org (whether justifiably because of regulatory reasons, or because of leadership issues.) Compensation: All things considered, compensation is competitive, but ultimately I took a pay cut joining Rivian. It's a startup in every sense of the word--without cash flow we can't (and shouldn't) pay beaucoup bucks (this might be especially noticeable for Silicon Valley talent who are used to the salary arms race; if comp is a major factor in your decision-making, Rivian will likely fall short of your expectations and you ought to look elsewhere). All full-time employees receive stock (there are still some folks waiting for their grant, but I hear it's coming), where we hope to see more meaningful financial upside in the future. I am listing this as a pro because I think Rivian endeavors to pay competitively and fairly with respect to market standards. Benefits: Fully subsidized snacks and beverages (gummy bears and the chocolate covered almonds are my favorite; lots of fresh fruit available if you err on the healthy side of things). Partially subsidized meals (usually via catering or food trucks). Unlimited PTO--reading other's reviews it's clear there are mixed feelings. Coming from my last company who also offered unlimited PTO, this is a huge plus for me, though I understand the concern of being able to actually use it. So far I have not encountered an issue with taking time off when I need, and hugely appreciate the flexibility in doing so without the anxiety of managing PTO accrual.
Cons
Lack of infrastructure: We are improving here (mostly by focusing our hiring efforts to ensure teams are appropriately resourced), but we are working very scrappily in almost every way. Standards and processes are in their infancy so this means a lot of back and forth while figuring out who does what, decisions being made at the last minute (which has undeniable domino effect on teams), and varying outcomes in quality. As a result, day-to-day at Rivian introduces more friction than not, but I have faith that this will improve over the next year or so. Diversity and inclusion: Like many companies in the automotive and tech industries, diverse demographics leave quite a lot to be desired here. In a very large new hire class of nearly 40 people, there were three women (yikes). We also have a glaring blind spot when it comes to how we market our vehicles (read: lots of white men going on adventures). I am comforted with Helen's (our CPO) proven background in investing in this kind of work and hope to see more movement and standards on this front, though I think it might be a little slow to start as we focusing on hiring in other areas. Work/life balance: I vacillate with being critical and empathetic to the company's situation. If you lean toward "intense" on the work scale, Rivian will do very little to dampen your enthusiasm (thus long days). On most teams, it is up to you to determine what a sustainable load or day looks like. I personally have not had issues with establishing proper boundaries with my teammates or leadership, but can see where dependence on your team/leader can be an issue when requesting time off. Benefits: Rivian, in many ways, has the trappings of a large successful company. With an impressive office in Plymouth, huge factory in Normal, and campuses (soon to open) in Palo Alto and Irvine, it's easy to think the amenities and perks like its Google and Facebook neighbors will be offered.
