DETROIT – Rivian said it has hired GM’s Design Engineer Alex Archer who led the invention of the power sliding console that is in the 2020 models of the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, Denali, Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban full-size SUVs.

A Rivian spokeswoman confirmed Archer, 27,  named on the GM patent, will start on June 22 as a design and release engineer.

Rivian, and other electric vehicle startups such as Lordstown Motors, are in a hiring frenzy to prepare to make battery-powered vehicles in a race to capture share in the still-evolving EV market. It’s a competitive space and the talent pools at traditional automakers are ripe hunting grounds.

A spokeswoman for GM declined to comment on Archer’s employment status. GM also did not provide answers to other Free Press questions around employee retention or the competition GM faces to attract top talent in the EV space.