Lead, Manufacturing Engineer, Mechanical Assembly (Fluid Systems) Long Beach, California

Relativity; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 144,000 - 176,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and equity

Generous PTO and sick leave

Parental leave

Annual learning and development stipend

Job summary

Relativity in Long Beach, California is seeking a Lead, Manufacturing Engineer, Mechanical Assembly to oversee the production of flight-ready mechanisms. The successful candidate will mentor a team and coordinate cross-functional efforts to optimize build processes.

This role requires a BS degree in a relevant engineering field and 5+ years of experience. Competitive salary range between $144,000 – $176,000 USD plus benefits.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant work experience.
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally.
• Extensive experience authoring work instructions and technical procedures.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of manufacturing engineers.
• Own a major mechanized assembly and contribute to build development.
• Coordinate cross-functional efforts across design, supply chain, and production.

Skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical leadership

Project management

Mechanisms manufacturing

Education

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

Job description

Lead, Manufacturing Engineer, Mechanical Assembly (Fluid Systems)

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. Achieving commercial success with Terran R will unlock new opportunities to advance science, exploration, and innovation.

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 reusable rocket. The 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. The team also optimizes factory floor layouts and designs intricate tooling and processes.

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

• 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.

Compensation & Benefits

Relativity Space offers competitive salary and equity, a generous PTO and sick leave policy, parental leave, an annual learning and development stipend, and more.

Hiring Range

$144,000 – $176,000 USD

Equal Opportunity Statement

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.