Weld Development Engineer Intern

RippleMatch Inc.; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 41,000; Part time

Job summary

Relativity Space in Long Beach is seeking a Weld Development Engineer Intern to contribute to fusion welding development across Terran-R fabrication, including GTAW, orbital tube welding, and laser welding. You will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to advance welding processes from concept through qualification.

You are pursuing a degree in Weld Engineering or Materials Science & Engineering, with a solid welding/ materials foundation and a hands-on, proactive learning mindset.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a degree in Weld Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, or related field.
• Strong foundation in welding processes and materials.
• Hands-on, proactive learner with good communication.
• Experience with fusion welding: GTAW, semi-auto GTAW, orbital welding or laser welding.
• Familiarity with AWS D17.1 is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Report to Sr. Weld Engineer on fusion welding for Terran-R, including GTAW, orbital tube, and laser welding.
• Support development and qualification of fusion welding processes and weld procedure specs per AWS D17.1.
• Assist manufacturing with welding operations, root cause investigations, and production challenges.
• Help ensure documentation meets specifications and drive continuous improvements.
• Collaborate with design, manufacturing, and quality to optimize welding processes and tools.

Skills

Welding processes

Materials Science & Engineering

Proactive, hands-on learner

Effective communication

Fusion welding experience

Education

Pursuing Weld Engineering degree

Pursuing Materials Science & Engineering degree

Tools

GTAW

Orbital welding

Laser welding

Job description

Weld Development Engineer Intern

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

• Report directly to the Sr. Weld Engineer as part of the weld development team, focusing on fusion welding processes for Terran-R, including GTAW, orbital tube, and laser welding

• Support the development and qualification of new fusion welding processes, including weld procedure qualification and generation of weld procedure specifications in accordance with AWS D17.1

• Provide direct support to manufacturing teams for welding operations, root cause investigations, and resolution of production welding challenges

• Assist with process quality control by ensuring documentation meets specifications, implementing corrective actions, and driving continuous improvements to maintain high-quality outputs

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (design, manufacturing, and quality) to develop and optimize fusion welding processes, equipment, and tools for the Terran-R launch vehicle

About You

• Currently pursuing a degree in Weld Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, or a related engineering field

• Strong foundation in welding processes and materials, with interest in Aerospace/Space applications

• Proactive, hands-on learner with a strong work ethic and effective communication skills

• Hands-on experience with fusion welding processes including GTAW, semi-auto GTAW, orbital tube welding or laser welding

Nice to Haves but Not Required

• Currently pursuing a degree in Weld Engineering

• Familiarity with AWS D17.1 and related welding codes/standards

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.