Manufacturing Engineer I - Test & Launch Structures Hardware

Frontdoor Defense; Florida; On-site; USD 90,000 - 136,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

PTO & sick leave

Parental leave

Learning stipend

Job summary

Relativity Space is hiring a Manufacturing Engineer I - Test & Launch Structures to support fabrication and integration of launch-site hardware from design to flight readiness. Based in Cape Canaveral, FL, the role involves hands-on work with structures, tooling, and ground support equipment, collaborating with engineers and vendors to meet tolerances and specifications.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's in engineering or related field, practical experience in manufacturing/fabrication, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field; or equivalent practical experience.
• Hands-on experience via internships, co-ops, or projects supporting manufacturing and tooling.
• Familiarity with CAD software and engineering drawings, tolerances, and GD&T concepts.
• Exposure to manufacturing/fabrication techniques such as drilling, milling, metrology, lifting and rigging.
• Ability to collaborate with engineers, technicians, vendors and teams to follow processes safely and accurately.

Responsibilities

• Support fabrication and integration activities for structural hardware, tooling, ground support equipment, and related launch-site systems under guidance of experienced engineers.
• Review engineering drawings, CAD models, work instructions, and specifications to identify questions or issues.
• Coordinate with engineering, technicians, fabrication teams, and vendors to support hardware builds, installations, testing, and integration activities.
• Apply fabrication and field techniques such as drilling, machining, metrology, lifting and rigging to hardware per project requirements.
• Assist with troubleshooting by gathering data, evaluating solutions with team, and implementing changes.
• Document activities and communicate progress, issues, and results to cross-functional teams.

Skills

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Safety awareness

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

NX

Creo

SolidWorks

CATIA

Job description

Manufacturing Engineer I - Test & Launch Structures

Support manufacturing and integration of launch-site hardware from design to flight readiness

Location: Cape Canaveral, Florida

Compensation: $90,000 - 136,000 USD / year

About The Role

Relativity Space Launch Team Engineer

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.

The Launch team operates at the intersection of every major aspect of Terran R, from stages and payloads to ground systems, launch, landing, and refurbishment. The Cape is the only place where you see it all come together, offering a level of exposure and responsibility unmatched elsewhere in the program. This is where first flights happen, where history is built on top of history, and where the scale of what's underway is unlike anything in modern aerospace. The mission stays the same, but the work evolves with every milestone: from first launch to reuse, high-cadence operations, and beyond. If you're looking to define what's next in space launch and write a new playbook, not just repeat what's already been done, this is where it happens.

As a Level I engineer on the Launch team, you will work with Test and Launch design engineers to support manufacturing and integration activities for launch site hardware and systems. You will contribute to fabrication and integration efforts, work with internal teams and third-party vendors, and gain hands‑on experience implementing manufacturing solutions in a fast‑paced field environment. You will collaborate with fluids, civil, electrical, and mechanical teams to support integration activities and help ensure hardware is built and installed to engineering requirements and applicable tolerances.

• Support fabrication and integration activities for structural hardware, tooling, ground support equipment, and related launch site systems under the guidance of experienced engineers
• Review engineering drawings, CAD models, work instructions, and specifications to support fabrication and integration activities and identify questions or potential issues
• Coordinate with engineering, technicians, fabrication teams, and vendors to support hardware builds, installations, testing, and integration activities
• Apply established fabrication and field techniques, including drilling, machining, metrology, lifting and rigging, and other processes as appropriate to the hardware and project requirements
• Assist with troubleshooting manufacturing and integration issues by gathering information, evaluating potential solutions with experienced team members, and implementing approved changes
• Document manufacturing and integration activities and communicate progress, issues, and results clearly to cross-functional teams

Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related discipline; or equivalent practical experience

• Hands‑on experience through internships, co‑ops, academic projects, or professional work supporting manufacturing, fabrication, structural builds, precision tooling, ground support equipment, or similar mechanical hardware
• Familiarity with CAD software such as NX, Creo, SolidWorks, CATIA, or similar tools
• Familiarity with engineering drawings, dimensions, tolerances, and basic geometric dimensioning and tolerancing concepts
• Exposure to manufacturing or field fabrication techniques such as drilling, milling, line boring, metrology, lifting and rigging, or similar processes through coursework, projects, internships, or professional experience
• Ability to work collaboratively with engineers, technicians, vendors, and other teams to follow established processes, resolve issues, and complete work safely and accurately

Nice to haves but not required:

• Experience supporting partial or full life‑cycle structural build or integration projects
• Experience working with large steel, aluminum, or similar structural systems
• Experience with mechanical systems, mechanisms, moving assemblies, or ground support equipment
• Experience with proof testing, qualification testing, or other hardware test activities
• Familiarity with AFSPCMAN 91-710 or similar range safety, launch, or aerospace compliance requirements
• Experience working on projects supporting the Department of Defense, U.S. Air Force, NASA, or other government or aerospace customers

Successful candidates must clear a background check administered by the US government to obtain clearance for on‑site work at our government partner location in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

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!

Hiring Range:$90,000 -$136,000 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].