Senior Materials Characterization Technician, Machine Shop, Second Shift

Visa Hunt; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 43,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Equity

PTO & sick leave

Parental leave

Learning stipend

Job summary

Relativity Space is seeking an experienced CNC machinist for a second-shift role. You will set up, program, and operate CNC mills and lathes to produce aerospace components, perform first article inspections, and develop fixtures. Collaboration with engineers is essential to translate designs into precise parts.

The position includes a 2:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. PT schedule, 10% shift differential, and a comprehensive rewards package with salary, equity, PTO, and learning stipend.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience setting up and operating CNC mills and lathes; maintenance and troubleshooting experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Set up and operate CNC mills and lathes, including first article inspections and program edits.
• Program and edit G-code using CAD/CAM software to create and refine CNC programs.
• Design and build custom fixturing to support machining operations.
• Inspect finished parts with precision measuring instruments to ensure compliance with drawings.
• Maintain, troubleshoot, and calibrate machining equipment and communicate with engineering teams.
• Develop standardized workflows and document machining procedures.

Skills

CNC milling

CNC lathe

G-code programming

CAD/CAM

First article inspections

Inspection & metrology

Blueprints & GD&T

Fixturing design

Tools

CAD/CAM software

Precision measurement tools

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 Materials and NDE (Non-Destructive Evaluation) team plays a central role in enabling Terran R to fly, re-fly, and scale: developing, characterizing, and inspecting materials and processes across all parts of the vehicle. From welding and additive manufacturing to advanced composites, the team works at the intersection of innovation and execution, balancing performance and reliability with cost, quality, and schedule. As we move toward first flight and beyond, the challenges become more exciting, offering opportunities to shape how we design and develop for re-use. With ownership across products, systems, and disciplines, engineers gain broad exposure and drive key decisions across design, manufacturing, and operations.

This is a second-shift position with a standard schedule of Monday through Friday, 2:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. PT. In addition to base pay, employees receive a 10% shift differential.

About the Role:

• Set up and operate CNC mills and lathes, performing first article inspections including programming, setups, dry runs, and program edits for accuracy, to produce precision aerospace metal alloy components and materials test coupons
• Program and edit G-code and utilize CAD/CAM software to create, modify, and refine CNC programs
• Design and build custom fixturing to support machining operations, and follow established setup sheets covering fixtures, tooling, and inserts
• Inspect finished parts and verify dimensions using precision measuring instruments to ensure compliance with engineering specifications and aerospace industry standards
• Maintain, troubleshoot, and calibrate machining equipment, and communicate effectively with engineering teams and cross-functional stakeholders to translate project requirements into machining solutions
• Develop and enforce standardized workflows for machine shop operations, including shift hand-offs and documentation of machining procedures

About You:

• 5+ years of hands-on experience setting up and operating CNC mills and lathes, including routine maintenance and troubleshooting; wire EDM experience is a plus
• Proven ability to perform first article inspections, including programming, setups, dry runs, and editing programs for accuracy
• Ability to design and build custom fixturing and follow setup sheets for fixtures, tooling, and inserts
• Working knowledge of G-code programming, with the ability to read, understand, and edit existing programs
• Proficiency with common inspection tools (calipers, micrometers, dial indicators, etc.) to inspect parts and verify dimensions against engineering drawings and specifications
• Ability to adapt in fast paced environments and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, and technical specifications

Nice to haves but not required:

• Experience in machine maintenance, troubleshooting, and calibration to ensure optimal performance
• Solid understanding of machining best practices for aerospace materials
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Strong understanding of tolerancing and measurement techniques in accordance with GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing) standards

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!

• competitive salary and equity
• generous PTO and sick leave policy
• parental leave
• annual learning and development stipend

Hiring Range: $31.20 — $46.80 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].

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.