Pros
If you are bored with an established existing business and looking for a challenge, Rivian is for you. The company is growing very fast to achieve an audacious goal of starting a new automotive manufacturing company. It's a fresh start to build a new business model, question why we are doing something instead of just repeating what has been done before. There's a wealth of really talented smart people to learn from and be inspired by. During challenging parts of the process I lean into being uncomfortable and reach out to teammates to discuss solutions. There's a common goal of working together. The amount of professional growth I've experienced here in one year is equivalent to the seven years at my previous job. It's a unique opportunity I'm grateful to be a part of.
Cons
It's easy to lose focus on why challenges exist as symptoms of a fast growing company. It's easy to focus on why things are wrong instead of what it will take to make Rivian succeed. If looking for a solution is not a natural habit, you may struggle here. It took me some time to work past this. If you are very curious, you'll need to manage this properly. I could spend a week learning about what other teams are working on or doing. It's easy to get derailed on your core focus, learning about something new. It's not really a con for me. I love it — just something to be aware of if you struggle with self-regulation.