Weld Engineer I

Relativity Space; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 136,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Generous PTO and sick leave

Parental leave

Learning and development stipend

Job summary

Relativity Space in Long Beach, CA is hiring for a Weld Engineer to join the Materials and NDE team. You will collaborate with design, manufacturing, and quality to develop and optimize fusion welding processes for Terran R, and support welding operations on critical stage hardware.

The role emphasizes hands-on ownership, documentation, and continuous improvement, with opportunities to grow in a fast-paced production environment and influence the build of a new rocket.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• 1+ years of welding processes experience (GTAW, GMAW, OTW, laser welding) with AWS/ASME specs.
• 1+ years in a high-paced production manufacturing environment.
• Strong curiosity, bias for action, hands-on approach and ownership.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and optimize fusion welding processes for Terran R.
• Provide technical support for welding operations and rapidly resolve production challenges.
• Serve as the accountable weld engineer for stage hardware including transfer tubes, fluid assemblies, grid fins, bellows, and heat shields.
• Ensure process quality control and documentation meet standards; implement corrective actions and continuous improvements.

Skills

GTAW

GMAW

OTW

Laser welding

AWS standards

ASME standards

Welding processes

Ownership mindset

Education

B.S. in Materials Science

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Welding Engineering degree

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 Weld Development team is part of the Materials and NDE (Non-Destructive Evaluation) team. The Materials and NDE 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:

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including design, manufacturing, materials and processes, and quality, to develop and optimize fusion welding processes for Terran R
• Partner directly with manufacturing teams to provide technical support for welding operations, troubleshoot issues, and develop solutions to rapidly resolve production welding challenges
• Serve as the accountable weld engineer for a range of stage hardware, including transfer tubes, fluid assemblies, grid fins, bellows, and heat shields
• Ensure process quality control and documentation meet required standards and specifications; implement corrective actions and continuous improvements to maintain high-quality outputs

About You:

• B.S. in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
• 1+ years of experience with welding processes (GTAW, GMAW, OTW, laser welding) and industry specifications (AWS, ASME, or similar)
• 1+ years of experience in a high-paced production manufacturing environment
• Strong curiosity and bias for action, with a hands-on approach and extreme ownership mentality

Nice to haves but not required:

• Welding Engineering degree (B.S. or M.S.)
1+ years of fusion welding experience – GTAW or Laser welding experience preferred

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:

$90,000 — $136,000 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].