Staff Materials & Processes Engineer, Fluid Systems

Relativity Space; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 226,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Equity

PTO & sick leave

Parental leave

Learning stipend

Job summary

Relativity Space in Long Beach, CA is seeking an experienced M&P engineer to own launch vehicle fluid systems for Terran R. You will qualify materials and processes for flight and reuse, and develop technical specifications and standards.

Collaborate with materials, laboratory, manufacturing, and QA teams to drive design, analysis, and process improvements as Relativity scales manufacturing and reuse of parts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in materials science or engineering, or related field
• 7+ years of relevant materials and processes experience (note: leveling is flexible based on candidate’s background)
• Experience with general M&P activities, such as material selection, process development, qualification, damage tolerance, inspections, risk assessments, and failure analysis
• A core commitment to accountability, collaboration, and execution
• A desire to establish and foster strong interdisciplinary relationships across the company
• An authentic, introspective, and inclusive mindset towards technical, interpersonal, team growth, and development
• Passion to work in a fast-paced and challenging environment on constantly iterating products + processes, driving big impact on program needs as we ramp manufacturing rate + achieve reuse

Responsibilities

• Be the cognizant M&P engineer of launch vehicle fluid systems
• Qualify fluid system materials and processes for flight and reuse
• Develop, implement, and maintain technical specifications and engineering standardsDrive statistically-driven experimental design and process improvement campaigns
• Interface with:
• Materials engineers to identify, define, and fill critical technology gaps
• Laboratory staff to characterize materials and processes
• Fluid system responsible engineers to support materials selection, design and analysis, qualification, failure analysis, flight, and reuse
• Manufacturing engineers to develop processes, troubleshoot issues, and enable cost & rate while maintaining performance
• Quality assurance and supply chain to ensure subcontractor compliance and reliability
• Relativity + Customer Fracture Control Boards to achieve vehicle reuse
• Leadership to develop technical roadmaps, elevate risks, and overcome roadblocks

Skills

Materials science

Engineering

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Accountability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in materials science/engineering

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

• Be the cognizant M&P engineer of launch vehicle fluid systems
• Qualify fluid system materials and processes for flight and reuse
• Develop, implement, and maintain technical specifications and engineering standardsDrive statistically-driven experimental design and process improvement campaigns
• Interface with:
  • Materials engineers to identify, define, and fill critical technology gaps
  • Laboratory staff to characterize materials and processes
  • Fluid system responsible engineers to support materials selection, design and analysis, qualification, failure analysis, flight, and reuse
  • Manufacturing engineers to develop processes, troubleshoot issues, and enable cost & rate while maintaining performance
  • Quality assurance and supply chain to ensure subcontractor compliance and reliability
  • Relativity + Customer Fracture Control Boards to achieve vehicle reuse
  • Leadership to develop technical roadmaps, elevate risks, and overcome roadblocks

About You

• Bachelor’s degree in materials science or engineering, or related field
• 7+ years of relevant materials and processes experience (note: leveling is flexible based on candidate’s background)
• Experience with general M&P activities, such as material selection, process development, qualification, damage tolerance, inspections, risk assessments, and failure analysis
• A core commitment to accountability, collaboration, and execution
• A desire to establish and foster strong interdisciplinary relationships across the company
• An authentic, introspective, and inclusive mindset towards technical, interpersonal, team growth, and development
• Passion to work in a fast-paced and challenging environment on constantly iterating products + processes, driving big impact on program needs as we ramp manufacturing rate + achieve reuse

Nice To Haves, But Not Required

• Demonstrated ownership and impact with aerospace fluid system products and their associated materials and processes through the full part lifecycle (manifolds, tubes, trays, bellows, fittings)
• Experience working with materials commonly used in fluid systems (cryogenic stainless steel alloys, nickel alloys, structural aluminum alloys)
• Expertise in fluids‑relevant special processes (orbital tube welding, gas tungsten arc welding, tube bending, passivation, precision cleaning, heat treatment, forging, casting, extrusions)
• Knowledge of relevant engineering disciplines (media compatibility, non‑destructive evaluation, corrosion, fatigue and damage tolerance)
• Experience with statistical experimental design and data analysis

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

$150,000—$226,000 USD

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.