Manufacturing Engineer II, Launch Vehicle Mechanisms

Relativity Space; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative aerospace company is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer II to join their dynamic team in Long Beach, California. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of cutting-edge mechanisms for reusable rockets. You will work closely with design and production teams to ensure efficient manufacturing processes and high-quality outputs. The ideal candidate will have a strong engineering background, experience in manufacturing, and a passion for aerospace technology. Join this forward-thinking firm and help shape the future of space travel!

Benefits

Generous PTO

Sick Leave

Parental Leave

Annual Learning Stipend

Equity Options

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing large process improvements.
• Ability to develop tooling as a manufacturing representative.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for mechanized subassembly from design to integration.
• Drive assembly's build and test efforts through design integration.
• Provide hands-on support to production personnel.

Skills

Aerospace Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Manufacturing Processes

Quality Assurance

Problem Solving

Education

BS in Aerospace Engineering

BS in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CAD Software

Project Management Software

Job description

Manufacturing Engineer II, Launch Vehicle Mechanisms

Long Beach, California

At Relativity Space, we have two audacious goals: to build the next great commercial launch company with Terran R and to become America's leading force in additive manufacturing innovation. Both contribute to our long-term vision of creating humanity’s industrial base on Mars, paving the way for interplanetary life to expand the possibilities of the human experience. This journey begins right here on Earth – where we design, build, and fly rockets to deliver customer payloads to orbit. Terran R, our medium-to-heavy lift reusable rocket, fulfills the growing demand for launch capacity, thanks to our iterative approach that accelerates design, testing, and development while minimizing costs. While our groundbreaking research and development in 3D printing pushes the boundaries of large-scale additive manufacturing.

Your journey with us is more than just a job – it’s an opportunity to shape the future of aerospace technology, additive manufacturing, and the human experience alongside a community of passionate, creative individuals. Join us on this extraordinary journey, as we work together to transform our vision into reality.

About the Team:

The Manufacturing team owns all process development, fabrication strategy, and production equipment for Terran R, our next generation, reusable rocket. This team has a wide variety of responsibilities – from factory floor layout, to developing complex tooling for novel processes, and interfacing with our vehicle engineering team to heavily influence design of the rocket. We leverage our deep expertise to translate engineering requirements into highly optimized production lines, working cross functionally to consistently enhance the vehicle program.

About the Role:

The Mechanisms Manufacturing team is responsible for working alongside the vehicle design and test teams to develop hardware that enables Terran R reusability, such as landing legs, pneumatic separation and release mechanisms, and linear and rotary electromechanical actuators. In this role, you will advocate for scalable manufacturing in product design trades and reviews, ensuring that manufacturing considerations are integrated early in the design process. You will develop build flow planning, large-scale part logistics, tooling design, conceptualizing & sourcing, analyze build & test data, work center capacity modelling and complex assembly work planning and execution. 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.

• Responsible for a major mechanized subassembly and its child components from design release through test and successful integration onto the Terran R launch vehicle—lay out the build and test flow to ensure an efficient, high-quality product flow capable of scaling with time.
• Drive the assembly’s build and test effort through design integration, part sourcing, assembly sequencing, mBOM development, build and test work order creation, and specification authoring.
• Support work center development by considering assembly and test operations, safety, tooling and capital equipment requirements, and company operational goals.
• Provide hands-on support to the shop floor and production personnel, promptly addressing any issues that arise and offering upstream feedback to drive design for manufacturability.
• Foster strong collaborative relationships with design, production, supply chain and quality assurance, facilitating effective communication and coordination to ensure alignment with company objectives and successful execution of manufacturing processes.
• Foster a culture of critical thinking and imaginative problem-solving, constantly challenging the established norms in engineering and manufacturing, and pushing the boundaries to achieve efficient production.

About You:

• BS degree in aerospace, mechanical, or manufacturing engineering (or technical equivalent) with 3+ years of experience building and testing hardware in a manufacturing environment
• Extensive experience authoring work instructions and/or test procedures to build and validate interdisciplinary mechanical and electrical assemblies
• Experience partnering with design engineering, manufacturing, and production personnel
• Extensive experience managing and implementing large process and/or quality improvements with large scope of ownership
• Experience developing or participating in developing tooling as a manufacturing representative
• Experience with at least 2 of the following:
  • Machining, precision drilling, mechanical fastening, and torqueing operations, electromechanical assembly, electrical or pneumatic functional checkouts, integrated testing, tool design and fab, subassembly work center development

Nice to haves but not required:

• Self-starter that has demonstrated the ability to define and own a process from scratch and roll out that process through adept communication to a diverse team
• New product introduction of an aerospace hardware system into a manufacturing, test, and production system with proven success
• Working knowledge of rocket subsystems including structures, mechanisms, high pressure gas systems, and/or avionics
• Strong understanding GD&T and drafting principles

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:

$110,000 - $140,000 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.

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