Manufacturing Engineer 1, Unpressurized Structures
Relativity Space · Long Beach, CA
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 1+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 20 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level manufacturing role at Relativity Space (aerospace & defense) in Long Beach, CA. Own a major primary structure assembly and its child subassemblies (landing legs, grid fins, tank structures, thrust structure, interstage, payload adapters, or heatshield components) from first build into rate production.
- They ask for
- 1+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- GD&T, Machining, Welding, Tooling
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- 1
Find 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at this site
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- 2
Send a short, curious note
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- 3
Have a 15-minute chat
Good questions for this role:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply, ideally with a referral
Ask if they'd refer you or introduce you to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link and tell them the day you apply.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
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About the role
About the role
Own a major primary structure assembly and its child subassemblies (landing legs, grid fins, tank structures, thrust structure, interstage, payload adapters, or heatshield components) from first build into rate production
Generate and maintain the mBOM, CONOPS, and build schedule throughout the development process
Create work instructions, specifications, and best practices across multiple high-fidelity processes, and help standardize those processes across the manufacturing team
Help establish the stations within the inaugural work cell, accounting for assembly operations, tooling and capital equipment requirements, and rate targets
Support the shop floor through live issue resolution, and drive process improvements and lessons learned back into the production flow and into the next generation of manufacturing technology
Provide Design for Manufacturing feedback to the structures teams through the first prototype and flight builds, working closely with design, manufacturing, and reliability engineers, internal production teams, external vendors, and Factory Development
1+ years progressive and related experience required
Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interface with engineering and manufacturing groups to understand process constraints and provide design inputs for improved manufacturability
Working knowledge of primary vehicle structures, machining, assembly process, & tooling - Intermediate to Advanced knowledge of GD&T
Ability to perform trade studies using first principles and engineering fundamentals
Able to work well in an integrated collaborative team environment
Highly self-motivated and able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment
Experience transitioning products from prototype to mass production
New product introduction of an aerospace hardware system into a manufacturing, test, and production system with proven success
Experience in managing projects in a fast-paced environment
Experience with critical lifting and tool design to support urgent operations
Experience with full size determinate assembly (FSDA)
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.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
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 Manufacturing team at Relativity Space is currently deep in manufacturing trades and process development for Terran R, our next generation, fully re-useable rocket. This team has a wide variety of responsibilities—from determining the most efficient factory floor layout, to developing and implementing complex tooling and processes, and even interfacing with the vehicle engineering team to heavily influence the design of the rocket. Unique to Relativity, you will get to work across many teams to iterate and support development of the vehicle program.
About You
Bachelor’s degree in aeronautical, mechanical engineering, or other engineering discipline
Hiring Range
$90,000 — $136,000 USD
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.