Senior Propulsion Manufacturing Engineer, Valves

Long Beach, California

At Relativity Space, we have two audacious goals: to build the next great commercial launch company with Terran R and to become America's leading force in additive manufacturing innovation. Both contribute to our long-term vision of creating humanity’s industrial base on Mars, paving the way for interplanetary life to expand the possibilities of the human experience. This journey begins right here on Earth – where we design, build, and fly rockets to deliver customer payloads to orbit. Terran R, our medium-to-heavy lift reusable rocket, fulfills the growing demand for launch capacity, thanks to our iterative approach that accelerates design, testing, and development while minimizing costs. While our groundbreaking research and development in 3D printing pushes the boundaries of large-scale additive manufacturing.

Your journey with us is more than just a job – it’s an opportunity to shape the future of aerospace technology, additive manufacturing, and the human experience alongside a community of passionate, creative individuals. Join us on this extraordinary journey, as we work together to transform our vision into reality.

About the Team:

The mission of the Engine Manufacturing department is to deliver high-performing products and innovative manufacturing systems while driving continuous improvements in cost, quality, and lead time. Through cross-functional collaboration, high levels of accountability, and a focus on safety we play a crucial role in building our reusable rocket, Terran-R. We are responsible for providing design feedback on new hardware iterations, pioneering and implementing advanced manufacturing methods and systems, and ultimately delivering engine and vehicle hardware for testing prior to launch. Over the past year, the Engine Manufacturing Team has successfully developed, iterated, and delivered processes and hardware for the first Aeon-R development engines. Now, we are entering a critical phase: producing flight engines that will pave the way for Terran-R's inaugural launch to orbit.

The Components (Valves) Manufacturing team is responsible for working alongside designers, machine shop, and additive teams to develop Terran R valve components.

About the Role:

  • Have end-to-end hardware manufacturing ownership of Terran R valves in a fast-paced, and sometimes ambiguous development environment.
  • Create constantly improving manufacturing work instructions and lead manufacturing and production strategy for hardware. 
  • Investigate and resolve hardware non-conformances and drive implementation of corrective actions.
  • Design tooling and fixtures for assembly and test. 
  • Collaborate with design engineers, test engineers, technicians, and internal machine shop for hardware development, manufacturing, test, and scalability for high volume production.
  • Support component testing through development, qualification, and acceptance. 

About You:

  • Bachelor's degree in technical discipline and a minimum of 5+ years' experience building, manufacturing, testing, or troubleshooting hardware in a manufacturing environment. 
  • Project Management: Experience interfacing with design engineering, manufacturing, and production personnel.
  • Manufacturing Process Experience: Component testing and qualification, Machining, Additive 
  • Ability to effectively investigate and resolve hardware non-conformances and drive implementation of corrective actions.
  • Ability to work with and train technicians in a hands-on hardware environment, writing work instructions, and process plans for complex assemblies.
  • Experience with Tooling design using with Siemens NX or other CAD tools, including conceptualization, modeling and drafting, and detailed analysis. 

Nice to haves but not required:  

  • Aerospace valve design or build experience
  • Experience transitioning products from development to high volume production
  • Experience with Vendor / Supplier Management
  • Experience in start-up environment 

At Relativity Space, we are committed to transparency and fairness in our compensation practices. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors.

Compensation is only one part of our total rewards package. Relativity Space offers competitive salary and equity, a generous PTO and sick leave policy, parental leave, an annual learning and development stipend, and more! To see some of the benefits & perks we offer, please visit here.

Hiring Range:

$130,000 - $166,000 USD

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

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