Rivian Chief Engineer Leaves and Returns to McLaren

SASSquatch · Mar 14, 2023

i didn’t see this posted yet and I think this is a big deal unless the plan was to borrow him from McLaren. The hemorrhaging of senior leadership is not a confidence inspiring look for investors or customers.

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/rivian-s-chief-engineer-leaves-goes-back-to-mclaren-211780.html

After almost five years at Rivian, Charles Sanderson decided it was enough and left the Chief Engineer position held at the American EV maker. The executive returned to McLaren, where he currently acts as the company’s Chief Technical Officer (CTO).

kanundrum · Mar 14, 2023

Saw it the other day was going to say standard within auto industry but yea not a good look. As long as papa RJ stays ?

SASSquatch · Mar 14, 2023

kanundrum said:
Saw it the other day was going to say standard within auto industry but yea not a good look. As long as papa RJ stays ?

I hear you. I hope Rivian/RJ provides more context for the departure to dispel any myths about the writing being on the wall which will scare away investors and future customers.

Dark-Fx · Mar 14, 2023

kanundrum said:
Saw it the other day was going to say standard within auto industry but yea not a good look. As long as papa RJ stays ?

I suspect RJ can't leave as long as the Amazon agreement exists. There's a handful of spots for names on that exclusivity agreement.

COdogman · Mar 14, 2023

It's always hard to know whether these are voluntary resignations or someone being asked politely to f*ck off.

jjswan33 · Mar 14, 2023

It sucks that Rivian is losing talent here but this sounds like a promotion to me and speaking as someone who lived overseas for 3.5 years maybe the US just wasn't his cup of tea. Hard to say what his motivation is.

Matt D. · Mar 14, 2023

People have been complaining about the tocking on their R1s. It seems that the man ultimately responsible is no longer with the company. Is this some to be happy or sad about?

SANZC02 · Mar 14, 2023

Sounds like a good opportunity for him going back as CTO. With Rivian now ramping up for the commodity based R2 series probably not as exciting for him at Rivian.

Not uncommon for people at this level to move around looking for bigger challenges. I can see where people would look negatively at this but from my perspective the heavy lifting is done with the R1S. Might actually be a benefit now to get a person skilled and more focused on a vehicle designed for mass production.

Donald Stanfield · Mar 14, 2023

I don't find this at all surprising. He wanted to be on the cutting edge, designing something new and exciting. Rivian is past that point now, they are looking for production people to get what they have done consistently and as efficiently as possible. That's a challenge that's interesting to some people, but usually not the same people who like to create new and exciting things.

Zoidz · Mar 14, 2023

I don't see this as such a big deal. Talented guy, no doubt. The McLaren pedigree was certainly important in development of the R1 platform. He appears to have extensive automotive software/hardware integration experience. But he may have been hired to primarily design and launch the R1 platform which used McLaren tech. Now that is done. The focus going forward is volume production and development of low to mid cost platforms that will probably be lower tech - not McLaren skills in any stretch of the imagination. A guy like this could get bored and want to move on, and perhaps McLaren wants him back for his Rivian experience. It may have always been part of the plan...?

McLaren Automotive Ltd
7 years
- Head of Software Development
  Aug 2017 - Jun 201811 months
- In-house Software Development Manager
  Feb 2016 - Aug 20171 year 7 months
- Senior Vehicle Dynamics Engineer
  Oct 2014 - Feb 20161 year 5 months
- Senior Stability Controls Engineer
  Jan 2014 - Jul 20151 year 7 months
  
  United Kingdom
- Hybrid Systems Development Engineer
  Jul 2011 - Jan 20142 years 7 months
  
  Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom
ABS/ESP Application Engineer & Project Coordinator
Bosch
Sep 2007 - Aug 20114 years

mikehmb · Mar 14, 2023

Looks like a talented individual.

It’s worth adding that the Woking McLaren site is an absolute masterpiece of a building and shrine to speed. I had the opportunity go there for work a few years ago. Everything about the place is about performance. It’s an unbelievable facility in a beautiful area that makes (arguably) the world’s best cars.

Fun fact: they have koi in the pond, upon which the facility is built. That pond water is used to cool the in-house wind tunnel. The water at the outlet gets warm enough that the koi get enormous - like world-class size.

There’s a training simulator near the cafeteria that is a replica of what they have for the race drivers.

They have literally every F1 championship car in their history in the lobby.

And the facility is shaped as yin and yang with the water and surrounding environment.

If I had the choice of working at an industrial site in Illinois, or an architectural masterpiece and shrine to speed in Surrey … no brainer.

(unfortunately, the software devs and IT folks are in the basement, but still)

Craigins · Mar 14, 2023

If you look he jumps jobs every 5-7 years for promotions. Some people are ladder climbers. Happens at my work constantly. Managers come in, reorg, stay 2-4 years, then go somewhere else for the next tier job after they declare success from their reorg.

s4wrxttcs · Mar 14, 2023

This really sucks.

I was hoping to get a McLaren at some point in my life.

The last thing I want is a tok'ing McLaren.

Florida Panhandler · Mar 14, 2023

Could be he misses living in England and is moving back. Illinois is a long way from London cafes and kidney pie.

Budman · Mar 14, 2023

I have worked at 3 large engineering/manufacturing companies. There is always a steady turnover of senior management.

Rivian Chief Engineer Leaves and Returns to McLaren

SASSquatch

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kanundrum

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SASSquatch

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Dark-Fx

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COdogman

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jjswan33

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Matt D.

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Donald Stanfield

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Zoidz

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