Friction Stir Welding Technician I, First Shift

Relativity Space; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage on first day

Wellness stipend

Gym discounts

Free lunch on Mon and Fri

Learning & development stipend

Job summary

Relativity Space in Long Beach, CA, is building rockets and creating a factory culture that blends autonomy and ownership. The Stage Manufacturing team turns design into reality for Terran R, with engineers and technicians collaborating to build the rocket and optimize the production process.

This 1st shift role runs 5:00am-3:30pm PT, Monday–Friday, with an expected 50-hour workweek and occasional overtime to meet operational goals.

Qualifications

• Experience with material joining processes (friction stir welding, arc welding, soldering, brazing, etc).
• Experience with metal fabrication techniques (forming, bending).
• Proficient with common hand tools and inspection tools.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office or Slack or similar.

Responsibilities

• Assist FSW operations: run equipment, prep welds, post weld blending.
• Support standard lift operations and assist in critical lifts.
• Perform precision blending/deburring with power and hand tools.
• Conduct in-process inspections with micrometers, calipers, and pi tape.
• Uphold Relativity Space safety and shop cleanliness standards.
• Foster an inclusive environment for team members.

Skills

FSW welding

Metal fabrication

Hand tools

Inspection tools

Microsoft Office / Slack

Tools

Micrometers

Calipers

Pi tape

Job description

Long Beach, California

At Relativity Space, we’re building rockets to serve today’s needs and tomorrow’s breakthroughs. OurTerran R vehicle will deliver customer payloads to orbit, meeting the growing demand for launchcapacity. But that’s just the start. Achieving commercial success with Terran R will unlock newopportunities to advance science, exploration, and innovation, pioneering progress that reaches beyondthe 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. Nowis a unique moment in time where it’s early enough to leave your mark on the product, the process, andthe culture, but far enough along that Terran R is tangible and picking up momentum. The mostmeaningful work of your career is waiting. Join us.

About the Team:

The Stage Manufacturing team turns design into reality, owning the build of Terran R’s primary structures. This isn’t about turning the same bolt every day; it’s about building the systems to build the rocket. Engineers and technicians work side by side, with deep collaboration and real-time feedback, to shape how we build better and faster. With a manifest and a launch date, it’s up to the team to deliver on Terran R: solving challenges in real time, optimizing for scale, and constantly improving processes. As the vehicle evolves, so will the factory, with opportunities to apply automation, machine learning, and advanced technologies. What we build here sets the blueprint for the future of scaled launch.

This is a 1st shift position with a standard schedule of 5:00am-3:30pm PT, Monday through Friday. Please note that this position is structured around a baseline expectation of a 50-hour workweek, which may include occasional overtime as needed to meet operational goals.

About the Role:

• Assisting in FSW operations which will include running the equipment, prepping welds for welding, and post weld blending
• Responsible for completing standard lift operations or assisting in critical lift operation
• Perform precision blending/deburring using a combination of standard power tools or hand tools
• Perform in process inspections using hand tools such as micrometers, calipers, and pi tape
• Uphold high Relativity Space standards regarding safety and shop cleanliness
• Foster and inclusive environment for all members of the team

About You:

• Experience with material joining processes (friction stir welding, arc welding, soldering, brazing, etc)
• Experience with metal fabrication techniques (forming, bending, etc)
• Proficient in the use of common hand tools and inspection tools
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office or other team communication tools such as Slack (or equivalent)

Nice to haves but not required:

• Experience with rigging and crane operations
• Experience with machining equipment (mill, lathe, etc)
• Experience with running CNC equipment or robotics
• Familiarity with NDT operations
• 100% health care coverage on your first day
• Quarterly wellness stipend to use on health and wellness
• Partnership with Modern Health with access to 8 therapy & coaching sessions and mental health resources
• Discounts on gym memberships, travel and entertainment through PerkSpot
• Unlimited onsite snacks
• Free lunch on Mondays and Fridays
• Annual learning and development stipend
• PPE Stipend
• Pet Insurance through Fetch
• Company Paid Life Insurance, Short Term Disability, and Long Term Disability
• Up to 12 weeks salary continuation for paid pregnancy disability leave
• 8 Weeks company paid parental leave
• Access to One Medical

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:

$22.80 - $31.35 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.

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.

As defined in the ITAR, “U.S. Persons” include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a “U.S. Person.”

The person hired will have access to information and items controlled by the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), and, therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by those regulations or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license. To assist Relativity in assessing its export compliance obligations in relation to your application, please identify which statement best applies to you:

If answer selection above requires an explanation, please explain below:

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Relativity Space’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305

Page 1 of 1

OMB Control Number 1250-0005

Expires 07/31/2029

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

• Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
• Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
• Blind or low vision
• Cancer (past or present)
• Cardiovascular or heart disease
• Celiac disease
• Cerebral palsy
• Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
• Diabetes
• Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
• Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
• Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
• Intellectual or developmental disability
• Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
• Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
• Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
• Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
• Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
• Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
• Short stature (dwarfism)
• Traumatic brain injury

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.