---
title: 'Staff Manufacturing Engineer, Vehicle Assembly & Test at ALSO'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/staff-manufacturing-engineer-vehicle-assembly-test-also-palo-alto-d7w575xq2qqe'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-05'
---

# Staff Manufacturing Engineer, Vehicle Assembly & Test at ALSO

- **Company:** ALSO
- **Location:** Palo Alto, CA
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-11-04
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-05
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/ridealso/1e69fa4c-bb33-4718-baeb-e0dba46aacfa

## Job description

About ALSO. We’re ALSO, an electric mobility company originally conceived as a part of Rivian. We’re a passionate team of builders, dreamers, doers and innovators, focused on creating entirely new (not to mention, innovative and delightful) vertically integrated, small EVs designed to meet the global mobility challenges of today and tomorrow. Our mission is to inspire everyone to ride ALSO—replacing many local car, truck and SUV miles with ones on vehicles that are more affordable, more enjoyable and 10-50x more efficient.

ALSO. is looking for a Staff Manufacturing Engineer for Vehicle Final Assembly & Test, based in Palo Alto, CA with experience working with internal design teams on DFM and scaling initiatives for passenger or autonomous vehicles. You will be a key direct contributor to launching the manufacturing of new products at both domestic and international manufacturing partners and ramping production. This is a rare opportunity to have a front row seat and high-level impact on each new vehicle product from two to four-wheeled.

## What You Will Do

- Lead manufacturing development for new automotive products, from pilot builds through production launch.
- Design pilot lines, including layouts, assembly and test steps, tooling, and equipment.
- Develop equipment and process specifications; lead design reviews and identify opportunities for automation.
- Partner with design teams on manufacturability, using GD&T and tolerance analysis to improve assembly capability, cost, and throughput.
- Lead pilot builds and turn build findings into clear design and process improvements.
- Own process FMEAs, control plans, validation studies, and build instructions for internal and contract manufacturer builds.
- Model production capacity, identify bottlenecks, and develop plans to meet output targets.
- Work with equipment integrators and contract manufacturers to implement assembly automation and custom test systems, including dynamometers.
- Drive production launch and ramp with contract manufacturers, resolving yield and quality issues on site as needed, including travel to Taiwan and Mexico.

## What You Will Bring

- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field, with NPI or manufacturing engineering experience in the automotive industry.
- Experience leading products through prototype builds, validation, production launch, and high volume ramp at contract manufacturers.
- Hands-on DFM experience partnering with design teams to improve manufacturability, including proficiency in CATIA or SolidWorks.
- Experience selecting manufacturing processes and implementing automation, with an understanding of how tooling, supply chain, quality, cost, and cycle time affect production decisions.
- Working knowledge of APQP and PPAP, with the ability to lead cross-functional decisions using data and take ownership of launch issues.

The salary for this position ranges from $175,000 - 230,000 per year, depending on experience, qualifications, and location.

## Perks and Benefits

- Robust health coverage. Excellent health, dental and vision insurance covered up to 100% by Also. with FSA & HSA options.
- One Medical membership and dedicated insurance advocates.
- Rich fertility and family building benefits with Progyny.
- Flexible time off.
- 401(k) match.

Why ALSO. We’re passionate about helping the world find a better way to get there—wherever it is you’re headed. We’re located in the heart of Silicon Valley and have brought together a world-class team from some of the biggest brands in the technology, automotive, cycling, outdoor recreation and retail spaces. Together we’re working hands-on to imagine, design and build an entirely new solution to a global set of transportation challenges.

## About ALSO

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: ALSO is an electric mobility company designing and building small, vertically integrated electric vehicles for moving people and goods, originally incubated within Rivian.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series C, Unicorn)
- **Headquarters**: Palo Alto, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2025
- **Founders**: Not publicly disclosed; the company was formed as a stealth team within Rivian before spinning out as an independent entity.

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Alternative Fuel Vehicle Manufacturing / Electric Mobility
- **Target customers**: B2C (urban consumers) and B2B (logistics, delivery, and transportation partners)
- **Mission**: To build the world’s best small vehicles for moving people and goods, driven and autonomous, with a focus on sustainability and rethinking transportation from first principles.

## Products & Services
Based on publicly available information, ALSO has not yet announced specific product names beyond the “TM” and “TM-” references on its website. The company is developing a vertically integrated technology platform that spans motors, batteries, electronics, and software. Its product lineup includes small EVs for both consumer and commercial use, with a flagship vehicle set to launch in early 2026.

- **[Flagship Small EV (unnamed)]**: A vertically integrated, small electric vehicle for urban and commercial use. It combines in-house powertrain, battery, electronics, and autonomy software. Launch expected in early 2026, initially in the U.S. and Europe. [ridealso.com](https://ridealso.com/pages/news)
- **Commercial Platform**: ALSO works with logistics, delivery, and transportation partners to deliver custom solutions at scale. [ridealso.com](https://ridealso.com/pages/company)

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: $1–2.5B (unicorn status) as of March 2026 (latest valuation per Dealroom). [dealroom.co](https://dealroom.co/companies/ridealso-com/)
- **Total Funding**: $505M across four rounds.
  - Corporate Round (Feb 2025) – 1 investor
  - Series B (Mar 2025) – $105M led by Eclipse
  - Venture Round (Aug 2025) – $200M led by Greenoaks
  - Series C (Mar 2026) – $200M led by Greenoaks, with participation from other investors
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Eclipse Ventures, Greenoaks. ALSO works with commercial partners in logistics and transportation sectors.
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew 290.9% year-over-year to 205 employees (LinkedIn, as of mid-2026). The company is actively hiring 48 open positions across engineering, product, and operations. It operates in five countries (U.S., Taiwan, U.K., South Africa, China). Strong talent inflow from Rivian (56 employees), Tesla, Apple, and Cruise. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ridealso)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Vertically Integrated Technology**: In-house development of motors, batteries, electronics, and software enables a tightly optimized, high-performance EV platform.
- **Rivian Pedigree**: Originally incubated within Rivian, benefiting from automotive rigor and advanced software/autonomy expertise.
- **Focus on Small EVs**: Addresses a rapidly growing market segment where 80% of car trips are under 15 miles, with urban population projected to reach 7 billion by 2050.
- **Strong Financial Backing**: $505M in funding from top-tier investors, providing ample runway for product launch and scaling.

## Strategic Focus
- **Product Launch**: Introduce the flagship small EV in early 2026, first in the U.S. and Europe, then globally.
- **Commercial Expansion**: Deepen partnerships with logistics, delivery, and transportation companies to scale custom vehicle solutions.
- **Technology Platform**: Continue to advance in-house autonomy, sensing, and connectivity features to differentiate the user experience.
- **Talent Growth**: Rapidly hiring across engineering, design, and operations to support product development and future scaling.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-Driven Culture**: Employees are described as “builders, technologists, designers, and dreamers” focused on creating sustainable, delightful mobility.
- **High-Growth Environment**: Headcount has tripled year-over-year, offering early employees significant impact and career acceleration.
- **Top-Tier Team**: Colleagues come from Rivian, Tesla, Apple, Cruise, and other elite companies, fostering a culture of craft and excellence.
- **Technical Depth**: Opportunities to work on cutting-edge EV hardware, software, autonomy, and battery systems. Open roles include Senior Software Engineer (ML), Motor Controls Engineer, Battery Design Engineer, and Staff Reliability Engineer.
- **Office Locations**: Hubs in Palo Alto (vehicle engineering, software, design), Seattle (customer experience & commerce), and Taichung, Taiwan (supply chain & logistics). The work policy is not explicitly stated but likely hybrid or office-first given the hardware focus.
- **Perks**: Not publicly detailed, but as a well-funded unicorn, competitive compensation and equity packages are standard.

## Sources
1. [ridealso.com](https://ridealso.com/pages/company)
2. [ridealso.com](https://ridealso.com/pages/news)
3. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ridealso)
4. [dealroom.co](https://dealroom.co/companies/ridealso-com/)
5. [ridealso.com](https://ridealso.com/)

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