Senior Weld Engineer

Relativity Space; City of Long Beach (NY); On-site; USD 124,000 - 186,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Equity

generous PTO and sick leave

Learning and development stipend

Job summary

Relativity Space seeks a Senior Welding Engineer in the United States to lead cross‑functional collaboration with design, manufacturing and quality on fusion welding for Terran‑R. You will own weld process development, author WPS/PQR, and support manufacturing with root cause analyses and robust corrective actions.

You’ll drive process controls, quality documentation, and continuous improvement in automation and throughput, while mentoring engineers and contributing to a high‑reliability culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Welding Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of fusion welding process development and production support in aerospace/high‑reliability manufacturing.
• Knowledge of fusion welding processes (GTAW, GMAW, laser) and equipment setup.
• Experience with aerospace materials such as stainless steel, nickel, aluminum, titanium.
• Ability to lead cross‑functional problem solving and drive technical decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross‑functional collaboration with design, manufacturing, and quality to develop and optimize advanced welding processes.
• Own weld process development and qualification, including WPS/PQR per AWS D17.1 and aerospace standards.
• Provide expert technical support to manufacturing, perform root cause analyses, and drive corrective actions.
• Establish process controls, quality documentation, and inspection criteria to meet aerospace goals.
• Mentor junior weld engineers and drive continuous improvement in automation and throughput.

Skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Welding process development

Root cause analysis

Mentoring

Problem solving

Communication of technical decisions

Industrial welding expertise

Education

Bachelor's degree in Welding Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Welding equipment setup

GTAW / GMAW / laser welding

Job description

At Relativity Space, we’re building rockets to serve today’s needs and tomorrow’s breakthroughs. OurTerran R vehicle will deliver customer payloads to orbit, meeting the growing demand for launchcapacity. But that’s just the start. Achieving commercial success with Terran R will unlock newopportunities to advance science, exploration, and innovation, pioneering progress that reaches beyondthe 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. Nowis a unique moment in time where it’s early enough to leave your mark on the product, the process, andthe culture, but far enough along that Terran R is tangible and picking up momentum. The mostmeaningful 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 reuse. With ownership across products, systems, and disciplines, engineers gain broad exposure and drive key decisions across design, manufacturing, and operations.

About the Role:

• Lead cross-functional collaboration with design, manufacturing, and quality teams to develop, qualify, and optimize advanced fusion welding processes and equipment/tools for the Terran-R launch vehicle
• Own weld process development and qualification, including authoring and approving weld procedure specifications and qualifications (WPS/PQR) in accordance with AWS D17.1 and related aerospace standards
• Provide expert technical support to manufacturing operations—troubleshoot complex welding challenges, perform root cause analysis, and drive sustainable corrective actions
• Establish and maintain process controls, quality documentation, and inspection criteria to ensure compliance with aerospace standards and production goals
• Mentor and guide junior weld engineers and technicians, supporting technical development and promoting best practices in welding process control and manufacturing efficiency
• Identify and lead continuous improvement initiatives to advance welding automation, throughput, and reliability across production systems

About You:

• Bachelor’s degree in Welding Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or related field (Master’s degree preferred)
• 5+ years of experience in fusion welding process development, qualification, and production support within aerospace, space, or high-reliability manufacturing environments
• Extensive knowledge of fusion welding processes (GTAW, GMAW, laser, and orbital tube welding) and related equipment setup, programming, and parameter optimization
• Demonstrated experience with aerospace materials such as stainless steel, nickel, aluminum, and titanium alloys
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional problem-solving, communicate and drive technical decision‑making to implement robust welding solutions in fast‑paced production settings

Nice to haves, but not required:

• Welding Engineering B.S., M.S.
• Hands‑on experience with manual/semi‑automatic GTAW, orbital tube welding, and laser welding systems
• Deep familiarity with AWS D17.1 and related aerospace welding codes, standards, and inspection requirements
• Experience with automation integration, robotic welding, or weld data analytics for process monitoring

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: $124,000—$186,000 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].

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.