Staff Structures Manufacturing Engineer

Company Overview:  

A rocket company at the core, Relativity Space is on a mission to become the next great commercial launch company. Meeting the needs of a growing demand for space infrastructure, our rockets will revolutionize how we connect and communicate on Earth by getting satellites to space. We have developed a vertically integrated technology platform in which we leverage additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and autonomous robotics to 3D print rockets. Our unique approach enables rapid product iteration, allowing us to push the boundaries of what's possible today and unlock the full potential of 3D printing for tomorrow. Join us on this extraordinary journey, as we work together to transform our vision into reality.

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 regularly interfacing with the vehicle engineering team to heavily influence the design of the rocket for streamlined manufacturing. Overall, this team is critical to the development and initial builds of Terran R. This team pulls together the efforts of design, additive, vehicle, and manufacturing teams to deliver flight-ready vehicles for test and launch. To meet our goals, we will drive the product from design concept through the build to structural acceptance test, ensuring the team can move fast while still producing high quality, well understood products.

The Structures Manufacturing team is responsible for working alongside the vehicle design and additive teams to develop Terran R primary structures, while also leading the charge on mechanical assembly. To meet our goals, we will build best in class manufacturing, test, and quality control processes to keep our team moving fast while still producing high quality, well understood products.  Overall, this team is critical to the development and initial builds of Terran R.

To be successful in this role, you need to be a self-starter that is able to thrive in ambiguity, identify problems and quickly resolve them, and provide definition to the previously undefined. You should have a commitment to quality and the discipline required to achieve it. You will set the tone for how mBOM’s are architected and work orders are written, how issues on the floor are addressed, and how test operations are run on the vehicle. You will be a trail blazer for the company, so you need to be self-motivated and able to influence both Engineering and Production in order to effectively implement your plans. You will need to be comfortable with desk work such as writing work instructions and analyzing test data as well as hands on work setting up work cells, assembling hardware and running test operations. You should be comfortable operating and troubleshooting complicated systems comprised of mechanical hardware, electronic hardware, and software.

About the Role:

• Own a major primary structure assembly or process for Terran R, starting with conceptual design-for-manufacturing support and following the entire development process through to tooling design and procurement, process development, prototype builds, and initial production
• Process development owner for major technical
• Represent the manufacturing organization in focused cross-functional teams to down-select concepts that are being evaluated for their feasibility from a Structures Manufacturing perspective
• Be the responsible owner of parts and process, who takes designs from concepts to completed flight hardware
• Support conceptual and detailed design of major tooling assemblies alongside tooling engineering
• Support procurement, commissioning, and initial trial builds, ensuring tooling is delivered on time and with the right capabilities
• Support the shop floor through live issue resolution and provide upstream feedback as we innovate the next generation of manufacturing technology
• Lead large scale part movements and ensure safety as well as clear and concise direction
• Provide Design for Manufacturing feedback to both the additive and structures teams during the development phase and through the first prototype and flight builds
• Develop strong working relationships with both Engineering and Additive Development teams to ensure all company objectives can be met
• Generate the build CONOPS and schedule, and maintain schedule throughout the development process
• Generate work instructions, specifications, and best practices across multiple high-fidelity processes. Standardize processes across the manufacturing team. Participate in technician training initiatives in tandem with standardized processes
• Assist with building and developing the manufacturing team, via participation on interview panels and mentorship opportunities for interns and less experienced team members

About You:

To be successful in this role, you hold a relevant engineering degree and have 7+ years of related experience, ideally in an aerospace or automotive manufacturing environment. You have demonstrated experience working cross-functionally to build large scope first article assemblies, resolve complex manufacturing issues, and meeting production demand. The ideal candidate has a strong mindset toward simple design solutions, quality, root cause analysis, and implementation of reliable and productive processes. You’re a tinkerer but also a self-starter who can balance and prioritize daily tasks that contribute to short and long term company goals.  

• BS degree in aerospace, mechanical, or manufacturing engineering
• Minimum 7 years of experience building hardware in a manufacturing environment
• Ability to work autonomously with little supervision in a fast-paced environment
• Extensive experience with design for manufacture and building first articles
• Experience interfacing with design engineering, manufacturing, and production personnel
• Extensive experience managing large scope of ownership
• Experience authoring work instructions to build structural assemblies and sub-assemblies
• Experience designing tooling or owning tooling development as a manufacturing representative, particularly for welding and trim/drill operations
• Expert in at least 2 of the following: welding (fusion and friction stir welding), machining, trim and drill operations, mechanical fastening and torquing operations, mating operations, critical lifting, tool design and fabrication, NDE methods, work-center development

Nice to haves but not required:  

• MS degree in aerospace, mechanical, or manufacturing engineering
• Experience transitioning products from prototype to mass production
• Self-starter that has demonstrated the ability to define and own a process from scratch and roll out that process through adept communication to a diverse team
• New product introduction of an aerospace hardware system into a manufacturing, test, and production system with proven success
• Experience developing user interfaces for manufacturing execution
• Working knowledge of typical manufacturing execution systems and quality management systems
• Experience in leading, executing, and managing projects in a fast-paced environment

Relativity Space offers competitive salary and equity, a generous vacation policy, an annual L&D stipend and more! 

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.