Robotics Engineer II

Long Beach, California

At Relativity Space, we’re building rockets to serve today’s needs and tomorrow’s breakthroughs. Our Terran R vehicle will deliver customer payloads to orbit, meeting the growing demand for launch capacity. But that’s just the start. Achieving commercial success with Terran R will unlock new opportunities to advance science, exploration, and innovation, pioneering progress that reaches beyond the known.

Joining Relativity means becoming part of something where autonomy, ownership, and impact exist at every level. Here, you're not just executing tasks; you're solving problems that haven’t been solved before, helping develop a rocket, a factory, and a business from the ground up. Whether you’re in propulsion, manufacturing, software, avionics, or a corporate function, you’ll collaborate across teams, shape decisions, and see your work come to life in record time. Relativity is a place where creativity and technical rigor go hand in hand, and your voice will help define the stories we’re writing together. Now is a unique moment in time where it’s early enough to leave your mark on the product, the process, and the culture, but far enough along that Terran R is tangible and picking up momentum. The most meaningful work of your career is waiting. Join us.

About the Team: 

Relativity Space pioneered large-scale additive manufacturing with our Terran 1 rocket, the largest 3D-printed object to fly. Now a distinct business unit within Relativity, Horizon Manufacturing Technologies is advancing next-generation manufacturing for aerospace and beyond. The team operates at the frontier of manufacturing innovation, where creativity meets capability. This is an environment where cutting-edge R&D is put into production, industrializing advanced manufacturing capabilities to solve customer problems. As member of the Horizon’s Robotics Team, you’ll work alongside welders, data scientists, and material scientists, creating an end-to-end additive manufacturing platform that serves a wide variety of applications. From exploring new materials to unlocking faster print speeds, to designing complex, organic geometries that can’t be built any other way, it’s high-impact work that sets the foundation for the future of advanced manufacturing.

About the Role:

A Systems Robotics Engineer at Horizon Manufacturing Technology contributes to the development, integration, and optimization of automation systems for our robotics manufacturing platform. The main focus is on designing and implementing robotic control systems, functional safety, and developing real-time systems to enhance operational efficiency and precision. Horizon’s team is highly cross-functional, so a successful Systems Robotics Engineer owns projects while working with stakeholders in a dynamic R&D environment. Responsibilities include:

  • Coordinate and lead development projects for new devices, such as sensors, end effectors, and motion systems. Identify requirements, design solutions, develop and integrate with the existing robot cells to serve the needs of the manufacturing processes
  • Commissioning EtherCAT networks and safety systems using TwinCAT and TwinSAFE
  • Configuring Kuka robot systems, such as determining drive systems, connecting motors and peripheral devices, setting up SafeOp, and configuring I/O systems
  • Calibration and verification of robot cell operation, using industrial metrology and tracking systems
  • Design, fabrication, and debug of low voltage electrical enclosures
  • Support robot cell operation for both production and R&D applications, including debugging code and adjusting cell configuration parameters

About You:

  • Education: BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, or a related field, or self-taught with extensive hands-on experience
  • 3+ years of experience in robotics control systems: In-depth knowledge of designing, implementing, and optimizing control systems for industrial robotic applications.
  • Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex issues in automation systems, ensuring reliability and performance
  • Good communication and collaboration skills: Ability to effectively communicate technical concepts and work in cross-functional teams to achieve project goals.
  • Familiarity with protocols such as EtherCAT, CANbus, Ethernet/IP, PROFINET, and safety protocols (FSoE, profiSAFE) used in industrial automation
  • Experience with functional safety standards in industrial automation such as ISO13849 and ISO61508, as well as performing standardized risk assessment such as described in ISO12100
  • Experience with motion and kinematics, such as in the context of robot reachability studies, servo control, accuracy and calibration, and path planning
  • Proficiency with Git or other revision control methods

Nice to haves but not required:  

  • Experience with programming Structured Text and configuring Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) for industrial automation
  • Experience with CAD/CAM for electrical schematics and mechanical design
  • Experience with agile development methodologies: Familiarity with agile software development practices, including iterative development and continuous integration.
  • Experience with Control Theory and System Identification
  • Proficiency in C++, C#, Python, Javascript, and/or ROS
  • Experience with Linux based systems and bash scripting
  • Experience with advanced motion control techniques, such as trajectory planning, servo control, and kinematics calculations
  • Experience with computer vision techniques for enhancing automation capabilities, including object detection and tracking. E.g. sensor fusion techniques.
  • Experience with systems test engineering, Verification and Validation processes

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:

$124,000 - $186,000 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.

If you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact us at accommodations@relativityspace.com.

Please note: Relativity Space does not accept unsolicited resumes, candidate profiles, or referrals from recruitment agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited submission - via email, our website, social media, or directly to an employee - will be deemed the property of Relativity Space, and no fee will be owed absent a current, fully executed agreement with Talent Acquisition that specifically authorizes submissions for the applicable role.

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