Sr Heat Treat Process Engineer

Relativity Space•Long Beach, CA

12d•Onsite

About The Position

Relativity Space is seeking a highly skilled Senior Heat Treat Process Engineer to own and optimize heat treatment processes for additively manufactured parts and welded assemblies. This hands-on role requires technical expertise in aerospace heat treatment, process development, and the ability to drive innovation in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. You'll spend significant time on the manufacturing floor working with furnaces, technicians, and cross-functional teams to establish world-class heat treatment operations for next-generation rocket components.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Materials Science Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Manufacturing Engineering
5-7+ years of heat treatment process engineering in aerospace manufacturing with proven NADCAP and AS9100 experience
Deep understanding of heat treatment metallurgy for nickel-based superalloys (solution annealing, precipitation hardening, stress relief, HIP)
Knowledge of aerospace heat treatment specifications (AMS2774, AMS2750) and additive manufacturing (L-PBF) heat treatment requirements
Understanding of furnace Installation qualification, calibration, temperature uniformity surveys, and thermal processing equipment management
Hands-on vacuum furnace operations, cycle development, and process validation
Experience with technical writing: Specification, SOP, work instructions
Experience training and working with manufacturing technicians

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or Manufacturing Engineering
Material characterization proficiency including hardness testing, tensile testing per ASTM E8, and metallographic evaluation

Responsibilities

Own heat treatment processes for L-PBF additively manufactured Inconel 718 parts and welded assemblies, including development and validation of heat treatment recipes (solution annealing, aging, HIP) through material testing (hardness, tensile, microstructural evaluation)
Drive experimentation and innovation beyond industry standards to meet production goals while maintaining aerospace quality requirements
Author and maintain process specifications and SOPs in compliance with NADCAP and AS9100 requirements, including temperature uniformity surveys, furnace calibration records, and process validation documentation
Lead root cause analysis for thermal processing non-conformances and develop corrective/preventive actions to prevent recurrence
Provide training, guidance, and technical support to heat treat technicians while collaborating with materials, quality, and manufacturing teams to resolve issues and implement improvements
Interface with suppliers and vendors for heat treatment equipment and services
Manage equipment calibration schedules, conduct temperature uniformity surveys, and identify infrastructure needs for capital equipment improvements
Design efficient shopfloor workflows with visual management systems to clearly identify part status and required heat treatment cycles, optimizing throughput and first-time quality