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Salary: USD 124,000 - 186,000 / annual
Relativity Space is building reusable rockets (Terran R) to serve commercial and exploration missions. The Materials and NDE (Non-Destructive Evaluation) team develops, characterizes, and inspects materials and processes across all vehicle systems—from welding and additive manufacturing to advanced composites—balancing performance and reliability with cost, quality, and schedule.
In this role, you will be the discipline expert for all adhesives and sealants used in Terran R. You will own adhesive and sealant interactions and usage in sensitive environments including payload bays and avionics systems. Your responsibilities include:
• Identify qualification envelopes, form comprehensive test plans, execute characterization campaigns, and analyze data for flight qualification and operational usage
• Develop, implement, and maintain technical specifications and engineering standards for adhesive and sealant systems
• Drive statistically-driven experimental design and process improvement campaigns to optimize performance and manufacturability
• Interface with materials engineers to identify and fill critical technology gaps through both Relativity-developed and commercially available materials
• Collaborate with laboratory staff on material and process characterization
• Support Responsible Engineers across materials selection, design, analysis, qualification, failure analysis, flight operations, and vehicle reuse
• Work with manufacturing and thermal protection system (TPS) engineers to develop processes, troubleshoot issues, and enable cost and production rate while maintaining required performance
• Engage with Reliability and Supply Chain teams to ensure compliance and supply chain resilience
• Participate in Relativity and customer Fracture Control Boards to achieve vehicle reuse objectives
• Develop technical roadmaps, elevate risks, and overcome roadblocks in collaboration with leadership
You will work in a fast-paced environment on constantly iterating products and processes, driving measurable impact on the Terran R program as manufacturing ramps and reuse capabilities mature.
REQUIREMENTS:
• Bachelor's degree in materials science, materials engineering, or related field
• 5+ years of experience relevant to materials and processes competencies
• Experience with general M&P activities: formulation, material selection, process development, qualification, damage tolerance, inspections, risk assessments, and failure analysis
• Core commitment to accountability, collaboration, and execution
• Desire to establish and foster strong interdisciplinary relationships across the company
• Authentic, introspective, and inclusive mindset toward technical, interpersonal, and team growth
• Passion for working in fast-paced, challenging environments on constantly iterating products and processes
NICE-TO-HAVES (not required):
• Demonstrated hands-on ownership of non-metallic materials and processes for aerospace products, including structural and non-structural adhesives, sealants, elastomers, primers, paints, coatings, potting, staking, conformal coats, elastomeric gaskets and seals, and other polymeric systems
• Expertise with contamination control and outgassing principles
• Expertise with non-metallic testing standards and procedures
• Understanding of cryogenic and high-temperature non-metallic material behavior in launch vehicle environments
