Senior Weld Technician

Relativity Space; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 47,000 - 71,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

PTO & sick leave

Parental leave

Learning stipend

Job summary

Relativity Space is seeking an experienced welder to join the Materials and NDE team in Long Beach. You will set up laser and GTAW welds on Terran R development hardware, read blueprints, and inspect parts using precision tools. The role requires 6+ years of hands-on welding experience in aerospace and the ability to lift 25 lbs.

This position offers a competitive compensation package, equity, and opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge rocket manufacturing and process development.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of hands-on laser or GTAW welding experience (manual, semi-automated or automated), preferably in aerospace to AWS D17.1 or similar requirements.
• Familiar with welding and fabrication of common aerospace alloys such as aluminum, stainless steel and nickel alloys.
• Can read blueprints and GD&T callouts, and can inspect parts and assemblies at every assembly level.
• Able to lift 25 lbs and work in confined spaces, reasonable accommodations will be made.

Responsibilities

• Set up and run laser and manual GTAW welds on Terran R development and flight hardware
• Fit up, fixture, tack, prep and clean parts. Inspect them with micrometers, calipers and torque wrenches
• Program and touch up robot paths, align laser optics and maintain weld cells; KUKA or FANUC cobot experience is a plus
• Run test welds with Weld Engineers to develop parameters, and troubleshoot equipment and weld defects
• Record weld data in travelers, follow laser safety rules and Relativity Space standards, and help keep the team inclusive

Skills

Welding experience

GD&T reading

Blueprint inspection

Manual handling/physical fit

Tools

Welding equipment (GTAW)

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.

About the Role

• Set up and run laser and manual GTAW welds on Terran R development and flight hardware
• Fit up, fixture, tack, prep and clean parts. Inspect them with micrometers, calipers and torque wrenches
• Program and touch up robot paths, align laser optics and maintain weld cells; KUKA or FANUC cobot experience is a plus
• Run test welds with Weld Engineers to develop parameters, and troubleshoot equipment and weld defects
• Record weld data in travelers, follow laser safety rules and Relativity Space standards, and help keep the team inclusive

About You

• 6+ years of hands‑on laser or GTAW welding experience (manual, semi‑automated or automated), preferably in aerospace to AWS D17.1 or similar requirements
• Familiar with welding and fabrication of common aerospace alloys such as aluminum, stainless steel and nickel alloys
• Can read blueprints and GD&T callouts, and can inspect parts and assemblies at every assembly level
• Able to lift 25 lbs and work in confined spaces, reasonable accommodations will be made

Nice to haves, but not required

• Current or past welding experience to AWS D17.1 or an equivalent aerospace standard
• Working knowledge of NDE methods and acceptance criteria, such as visual, penetrant and radiographic inspection
• Experience bringing new weld equipment, tooling or processes onto the shop floor
• Self‑starter who communicates clearly, adapts quickly and works well on their own in a fast‑paced environment

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

$34.42 - $51.63 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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