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 Machine Shop team delivers high-precision, high-quality machined components that are critical to Terran R’s success. Here, you’ll combine technical skill with creativity, collaborating closely with engineering and design teams to drive better part designs and manufacturing solutions. You’ll work with best-in-class, premium machinery and get to bring our expanded, state-of-the-art machine shop to life to support the scale and pace of the Terran R program. This role offers the rare chance to see your craftsmanship directly integrated into flight hardware, making an immediate impact. With clear training pathways, you’ll have opportunities to advance from operating machines to programming them, growing your career alongside the program.
About the Role:
- Own all machining operations company-wide, including the engine and vehicle machining work centers supporting propulsion and vehicle hardware.
- Lead and scale a high-performing organization across programming, machine operation, manufacturing engineering, and shop floor leadership to deliver high-complexity, tight-tolerance parts at rate.
- Drive execution and rigor in daily operations, ensuring production adheres to schedule, cost, quality, and safety standards while quickly resolving constraints and disruptions.
- Develop and implement long-term machining strategy, including capital planning, asset utilization, shift structure, and capacity planning to meet program milestones and future rate demands.
- Partner cross-functionally with design engineering, manufacturing engineering, supply chain, and quality to ensure part manufacturability, robust process capability, and supplier alignment.
- Champion advanced manufacturing technologies, such as automation, digital work instruction systems, and machine monitoring tools to increase efficiency and traceability across operations.
About You:
- 12+ years of experience in machining or precision manufacturing, with at least 7 years in a leadership role over multiple teams or machining centers.
- Proven experience managing multi-axis CNC operations, high-precision part production, and end-to-end ownership of machining workflows.
- Demonstrated success scaling machining throughput, improving cycle times, and optimizing machine utilization in a fast-paced, high-mix environment.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing engineering principles, DFM, GD&T, tooling strategy, and machining best practices for aerospace-grade materials (e.g., Inconel, titanium, aluminum).
- Experience working cross-functionally with engineering, production, and supply chain to solve problems and drive aligned outcomes.
Nice to haves but not required:
- Background in aerospace propulsion or spaceflight machining, including components for engines, tanks, or structural assemblies.
- Experience implementing digital machine monitoring, MES, and tool life management systems to support traceability and predictive maintenance.
- Expertise with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and automation strategies applied to high-precision machining environments.
- Experience selecting, commissioning, and scaling new machining equipment and work centers in a development or growth-stage company.
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.
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.
Top Skills
Relativity Space Long Beach, California, USA Office
We have two sites in Long Beach, CA's Space Beach: "The Wormhole," a 1M sq. ft. factory, once Boeing C-17's home. Nearby, "The Portal" supports Aeon R engine production for our Terran R launch vehicle.
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