Manufacturing Engineer I, Mechanisms

Relativity Space•Long Beach, CA

About The Position

Relativity Space is building rockets to serve today’s needs and tomorrow’s breakthroughs. Their Terran R vehicle will deliver customer payloads to orbit, meeting the growing demand for launch capacity. This role is within the Mechanisms Manufacturing team, which is in the design release and New Product Introduction phase for Terran R. The team collaborates closely with vehicle design, supply chain, test, production, and vehicle integration to develop electromechanical and pneumatic hardware that supports rocket reusability. This includes key components like landing legs mechanisms, grid fin actuators, pneumatic separation and release mechanisms, and linear and rotary electromechanical actuators. The team is also responsible for developing and designing intricate processes, tooling, training technicians, and optimizing factory floor layouts. The role requires a self-starter who can thrive in ambiguity, identify problems and quickly resolve them, and provide definition to the previously undefined. A commitment to quality, balancing short-term and long-term solutions, and discipline to achieve objectives are essential. The Manufacturing Engineer will own major mechanized assemblies and their child components from design release through test and successful integration onto the Terran R launch vehicle. They will lay out the build and test flow to ensure an efficient, high-quality product flow capable of scaling with time. The role involves driving the assembly’s build and test effort through design integration, part sourcing, assembly sequencing, mBOM development, build and test work order creation, and specification authoring. Support will be provided to workcenter development by considering assembly and test operations, safety, tooling and capital equipment requirements, and company operational goals. The engineer will provide hands-on support to the shop floor and production personnel, promptly addressing any issues that arise and offering upstream feedback to drive design for manufacturability. They will analyze and disposition recurring manufacturing discrepancies and lead multi-disciplinary teams on root cause analysis and corrective actions. Fostering a culture of critical thinking and imaginative problem-solving, constantly challenging established norms, and pushing boundaries for efficient production are key. Mentoring other manufacturing engineers is also part of the role.

Requirements

BS degree in aerospace, mechanical, or manufacturing engineering
1+ years of experience building and testing hardware in a manufacturing environment
Extensive experience developing processes, authoring work instructions and/or test procedures to build and test interdisciplinary mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic assemblies
Experience interfacing with design engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, planning, and production personnel
Extensive experience leading, executing and managing large process and/or quality improvements with large scope of ownership
Ability to work autonomously with little supervision in a fast-paced and ambiguous environment
Knowledge in at least 2 of the following: fastening and torquing operations, pneumatic and/or electromechanical assembly, electrical and/or pneumatic testing or functional checkouts, tooling design and fabrication, potting processes, grease plating processes, harness manufacturing, machining of complex products like gears.

Nice To Haves

New product introduction of an aerospace hardware system into a manufacturing, test, and production system with proven success.
Transitioning products from prototype to high volume production.
Understanding the importance of assessing a situation and leveraging both short-term and long-term solutions.
Working knowledge of rocket subsystems including structures, mechanisms, high pressure gas systems and/or avionics.
Expert understanding of GD&T and drafting principles.
Experience in capacity analyses, DFMEA/PFMEA, value stream mapping.

Responsibilities

Own major mechanized assemblies and their child components from design release through test and successful integration onto the Terran R launch vehicle.
Lay out the build and test flow to ensure an efficient, high-quality product flow capable of scaling with time.
Drive the assembly’s build and test effort through design integration, part sourcing, assembly sequencing, mBOM development, build and test work order creation, and specification authoring.
Support workcenter development by considering assembly and test operations, safety, tooling and capital equipment requirements, and company operational goals.
Provide hands-on support to the shop floor and production personnel, promptly addressing any issues that arise and offering upstream feedback to drive design for manufacturability.
Analyze and disposition recurring manufacturing discrepancies and lead multi-disciplinary teams on root cause analysis and corrective actions.
Foster a culture of critical thinking and imaginative problem-solving, constantly challenging the established norms in engineering and manufacturing, and pushing the boundaries to achieve efficient production throughout the workcenter.
Mentor other manufacturing engineers, providing guidance to support technical and professional development.