Sr Manufacturing Engineer, Paint and TPS
Relativity Space · Long Beach, CA
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 4+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 20 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior manufacturing role at Relativity Space (aerospace & defense) in Long Beach, CA. Identify, develop, and implement new manufacturing capabilities to increase capability, quality, and throughput of Paint & Thermal Protection System processes.
- They ask for
- 4+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Machining, Painting / coating, Tooling
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At a glance
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Your game plan for this job
Most people just hit Apply. Do these first and you show up with someone on the inside.
- 1
Find 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at this site
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply most.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
Ask about the work, not for a referral. We write it for you.
- 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
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
About the role
responsibilities
– from factory floor layout, to developing complex tooling for novel processes, and interfacing with our vehicle engineering team to heavily influence design of the rocket. We leverage our deep expertise to translate engineering
requirements
into highly optimized production lines, working cross functionally to consistently enhance the vehicle program.
About the role
Own the application of Paint and Thermal Protection System materials from design release through successful installation onto the Terran R launch vehicle—lay out the build flow to ensure an efficient, high-quality process capable of scaling production rate with time
Drive first build efforts and improve existing product lines through design integration, assembly sequencing, mBOM development, build work order creation, and specification authoring
Support the shop floor and production personnel through responsive issue resolution and provide upstream feedback as we innovate the next generation of manufacturing technology
Identify, develop, and implement new manufacturing capabilities to increase capability, quality, and throughput of Paint & Thermal Protection System processes
Mentor other engineers and team members through technical and non-technical decision making
Develop strong working relationships with Engineering, Build Reliability, Supply Chain, and external partners to ensure all company objectives can be met
Nice to have, but not required
New product introduction of an aerospace hardware product or process with proven success
Previous experience leading or mentoring engineering teams
Master’s degree in engineering or related technical discipline
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 owns all process development, fabrication strategy, and production equipment for Terran R, our next generation, reusable rocket. This team has a wide variety of
About You
Bachelor’s degree in aeronautical, mechanical engineering, or other engineering discipline with 4+ years progressive and related work experience
Experience building out workcenters including the selection, acquisition, and activation of capital equipment for scaling manufacturing processes
Self-starter who can define and roll out new processes from scratch, working collaboratively with technicians, engineers, and external partners
Strong working experience and expert knowledge of at least 2 of the following processes: adhesive bonding, soft goods manufacturing, coating processes, machining, mechanical fastening and torquing operations, trim and drill operations, composites manufacturing, critical lifting, tool design and fabrication
Highly self-motivated and able to prioritize and execute tasks in an ambiguous, high-pressure environment
Hiring Range
$122,000 — $182,000 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.