Rivian Automotive’s chief engineer, Charles Sanderson, has left the U.S. EV startup for McLaren, his earlier employer, McLaren stated in a information launch.

Sanderson, who joined Rivian practically 5 years in the past to develop its R1 car platform, returns to supercar maker McLaren within the position of chief technical officer, McLaren stated earlier this week.

“Mr. Sanderson will now spearhead McLaren Automotive’s new expertise roadmap and product innovation technique,” McLaren stated. Sanderson’s earlier position at McLaren was head of software program improvement.

Rivian stated Sanderson had chosen to return to McLaren.

A Rivian spokesperson stated Sanderson was a part of the product improvement workforce reporting to Nick Kalayjian, chief product improvement officer, who has a powerful management workforce and deep bench of expertise.

In accordance with his LinkedIn web page, Sanderson began with Rivian in June 2018 as vp of car integration and improvement, a task he held for 15 months earlier than shifting to the chief engineer job in August 2019.

Rivian launched manufacturing in September 2021.

The EV startup based mostly in Irvine, Calif., has been battling manufacturing points at its Regular, In poor health., plant and has forecast output of about 50,000 automobiles this 12 months. Initially, Rivian had forecast 2022 manufacturing at that degree, nevertheless it produced slightly below 25,000 shopper and business automobiles final 12 months.

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe stated on an earnings name final month that offer chain constraints are holding again manufacturing and making it troublesome to ramp up a second meeting shift for the R1T pickup and R1S crossover. Rivian makes an electrical supply van for Amazon on a distinct line.

Within the final seven months, at the least half a dozen executives have left Rivian.

Among the many departures are Randy Frank, who was vp of physique and inside engineering, and Steve Gawronski, vp for elements buying, The Wall Avenue Journal reported in January. Rivian confirmed the departures. The corporate additionally misplaced its chief lobbyist, normal counsel and a senior technique director.

The automaker has had two rounds of layoffs prior to now 12 months, every shedding about 6 % of workers. The newest, in February, included about 840 staff out of a complete work drive of 14,000.