Supervisor, Materials Characterization Technicians
At Relativity Space, we have two audacious goals: to build the next great commercial launch company with Terran R and to become America's leading force in additive manufacturing innovation. Both contribute to our long-term vision of creating humanity’s industrial base on Mars, paving the way for interplanetary life to expand the possibilities of the human experience. This journey begins right here on Earth – where we design, build, and fly rockets to deliver customer payloads to orbit. Terran R, our medium-to-heavy lift reusable rocket, fulfills the growing demand for launch capacity, thanks to our iterative approach that accelerates design, testing, and development while minimizing costs. While our groundbreaking research and development in 3D printing pushes the boundaries of large-scale additive manufacturing.
Your journey with us is more than just a job – it’s an opportunity to shape the future of aerospace technology, additive manufacturing, and the human experience alongside a community of passionate, creative individuals. Join us on this extraordinary journey, as we work together to transform our vision into reality.
About the Team:
The Materials & NDE Engineering team is responsible for the development, characterization, and inspection of materials across the Terran R launch vehicle. We specialize in rapid implementation of material systems through robust internal testing capabilities and first principles driven qualification approaches. We have recently made our first primary structure barrel, supported introduction of next generation powder additive alloys in the Aeon-R engine, and developed 100% in-cell NDE inspection capabilities for WAAM manufactured hardware.
About the Role:
- Supervise materials characterization lab technicians and specialists. Oversee day-to-day operations for mechanical test, machine shop and metallography teams to ensure efficient workflow, safety and quality standards
- Coordinate team schedule, resource allocation and equipment maintenance to support both R&D and production deadlines
- Provide technical guidance and mentorship to lab lead technicians and team/specialists, foster skill development and continuous improvement in materials testing
- Ensure accurate documentation, data integrity and compliance with industry standards and internal procedures
- Collaborate with engineers, quality and manufacturing teams to support test planning, results interpretation and troubleshooting
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives, including process optimization, training programs and technology upgrades within the Materials Characterization Lab
About You:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
- 5+ years of leadership experience in materials testing or metallurgical lab environment
- Experienced with material characterization test methods and sample prep including machining, mechanical testing, metallography and heat treat
- Solid understanding of industry standards (e.g. ASTM, ISO) and quality systems, with a focus on maintaining data integrity and lab compliance
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to lead diverse technical teams and collaborate cross-functionally
- Hands-on problem solving ability and a continuous improvement mindset, experience implementing process enhancements and mentoring technical skills
Nice to haves but not required:
- Experience operating with Instron and MTS mechanical test equipment
- Experience operating metallography equipment
- Experience with lab accreditation standards such as ISO or NADCAP
- Proficiency in interpreting engineering drawings and material specifications (ASTM, ASME standards)
- Familiarity with CNC machining or precision manufacturing processes
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.
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We are building the future of aerospace. A rocket company at the core, Relativity Space is on a mission to become the next great commercial launch company. Terran R, our medium-to-heavy lift reusable launch vehicle, will reliably deliver payloads...
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