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Aerospace, Space Exploration, Manufacturing, 3D Printing

Sr Manufacturing Engineer, Paint and TPS

Long Beach, CAOnsiteFull TimeSenior$122,000–$182,000 /yrPosted 1 month agoVisa sponsorship available

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Required skills

  • Paint
  • Thermal Protection System
  • Terran R
  • manufacturing
  • process development
  • fabrication strategy
  • production equipment
  • factory floor layout
  • complex tooling
  • novel processes

Nice to have

  • technical discipline

Role summary

Relativity Space is seeking a Sr. Manufacturing Engineer specializing in Paint and Thermal Protection Systems for their next-generation reusable rocket, Terran R. This role involves owning the application of TPS materials, optimizing build flows, and driving first build efforts. Responsibilities include developing manufacturing processes, supporting shop floor operations, and implementing new capabilities to enhance quality and throughput. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in engineering with 4+ years of experience, including building workcenters and selecting capital equipment. Expertise in at least two specific manufacturing processes like coating, adhesive bonding, or composites is required. Experience with new product introduction and team mentorship is preferred.

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 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

    • 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

    • 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.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:$122,000—$182,000 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 accommodations@relativityspace.com.

    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.

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