Lead, Manufacturing Engineer, Mechanical Assembly (Fluid Systems)

Relativity Space; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 198,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous PTO and sick leave policy

Parental leave

Annual learning and development stipend

Job summary

Relativity Space in Long Beach, California is seeking an experienced manufacturing engineer to lead the team responsible for building flight-ready mechanisms for the Terran R rocket. You will mentor engineers, own essential assemblies, and coordinate cross-functional efforts for efficient build execution.

The role requires a bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field and 5+ years of experience, focusing on quality and teamwork in a fast-paced environment. Relativity Space offers competitive compensation, equity shares, generous leave policies, and an annual professional development stipend.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant work experience in a technical field.
• Extensive experience creating work instructions and technical procedures.
• Strong understanding of mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of manufacturing engineers.
• Own major mechanized assemblies, guiding execution through production.
• Coordinate cross-functional efforts to optimize build processes.

Skills

Mechanisms manufacturing

Integrated assembly processes

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem-solving

Education

BS degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, or manufacturing engineering

Job description

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

The Mechanisms & Integrated Sub-Assemblies Manufacturing team at Relativity Space is currently in the design release and New Product Introduction phase for Terran R, our next generation, fully re‑useable rocket. This team handles a broad range of responsibilities, collaborating closely with vehicle design, factory test and production to develop hardware that supports rocket reusability. This includes key assemblies like pneumatic separation and release mechanisms, linear and rotary electromechanical actuators and integrated propulsion/avionics assemblies. Additionally, the team is responsible for optimizing factory floor layouts and designing and implementing intricate tooling and processes. Unique to Relativity, you will get to work across many teams to iterate and support development of the vehicle program. To be successful in this role, you need to be a self‑starter that can thrive in ambiguity, identify problems and quickly resolve them, and provide definition to the previously undefined. You should have a commitment to quality and the discipline required to achieve it.

About the Role

• Lead and mentor a team of manufacturing engineers building flight‑ready mechanisms and integrated sub‑assemblies, driving scalable, efficient, and high‑quality production processes.
• Own a major mechanized assembly and/or integrated sub‑assembly, contributing directly to build development while guiding team execution from design release through production.
• Coordinate cross‑functional efforts across design, supply chain, and production to execute the build process: covering planning, sourcing strategies, sequencing, mBOM development, tooling, equipment and work order creation.
• Guide workcenter development with a strategic focus on long‑term goals, safety, capital investment, and tooling, aligning operations with scaling and continuous improvement objectives.
• Provide hands‑on technical leadership to resolve manufacturing challenges, lead root cause analysis, and implement sustainable, efficiency‑driven solutions.
• Manage team priorities, offer technical direction, drive execution, and support professional development of team members.

About You

• 5+ years of relevant work experience and BS degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, manufacturing engineering or related technical field.
• Extensive experience authoring work instructions, mBOMs and technical procedures for interdisciplinary assemblies involving mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic systems.
• Proven ability to work cross‑functionally with design, manufacturing, production, and quality teams to execute and optimize build processes.
• Strong understanding of mechanisms manufacturing and integrated assembly processes across mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic systems.
• Experience executing and driving projects in a fast‑paced, evolving environment.

Nice to haves but not required

• Previous experience leading or mentoring engineering teams.
• Experience with scaling manufacturing processes from development through rate production.
• Hands‑on experience with RCCA, assembly testing, tooling design and/or fabrication.
• Experience in capacity analysis, PFMEA, value stream mapping and work center/process development.

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: $132,000 — $198,000 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 [e-mail].