Shift Lead, Materials Characterization Technicians (Metallography) - First Shift MET Lab
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 Materials and NDE (Non-Destructive Evaluation) team plays a central role in enabling Terran R to fly, re-fly, and scale: developing, characterizing, and inspecting materials and processes across all parts of the vehicle. From welding and additive manufacturing to advanced composites, the team works at the intersection of innovation and execution, balancing performance and reliability with cost, quality, and schedule. As we move toward first flight and beyond, the challenges become more exciting, offering opportunities to shape how we design and develop for re-use. With ownership across products, systems, and disciplines, engineers gain broad exposure and drive key decisions across design, manufacturing, and operations.
About the Role:
- Provide technical leadership to MET Lab metallography team by distributing daily work based on team strengths and goals; be a working lead alongside the team, help set priorities and act as first-line of technical support
- Ensure team follows work standards, safety protocols, and 5S work center upkeep
- Train, mentor and provide feedback to new/existing technicians to continuously improve skills
- Monitor equipment status and report deadlines, delays, or changes to supervisor
- Provide direct feedback, uphold team culture, and set tone for professionalism, accountability, and teamwork
- Deescalate minor interpersonal issues and collaborate with Supervisor on performance reviews
About You:
- 6+ years of hands-on metallography, microscopy, hardness testing and/or etching in materials characterization for aerospace applications
- Proficient in sample preparation methods including precision machining, polishing/mounting, etching and microscopy for aerospace materials (Inconel, aluminum, copper, stainless steel, non-metallics, etc.)
- Familiar with standard test methods and sample preparation techniques
- Well-organized and strong attention to detail
- Excellent communication skills with ability to train others and work collaboratively in a professional, team environment
Nice to haves but not required:
- Lead or other leadership experience in related field
- Experience with mechanical testing, thermal testing, chemistry testing and/or powder analysis
- Familiarity with material processing techniques ex. additive manufacturing, welding, heat treating, etc
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.
If you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact us at [email protected].
Relativity Space Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — The company offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, company-funded HSA contributions, mental-health resources, and access to One Medical and an EAP. Wellness supports like a stipend and gym discounts reinforce the breadth of care.
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Parental & Family Support — Generous parental leave is paired with a $10,000 family-building stipend for fertility and adoption, with mentions of a Carrot Fertility partnership. This combination indicates meaningful support across different family needs.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — The stated policy includes 15 PTO days per year with separate sick-time accruals, 11 company holidays, and 2 personal-choice holidays. This structure provides multiple avenues for planned and unplanned time away.
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What We Do
Relativity Space is on a mission to better connect humanity to space and the universe beyond our planet. Our medium-to-heavy lift reusable rocket, Terran R, 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.
Why Work With Us
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.
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At Relativity Space, we are an office-first company. We believe our best work happens in person—where collaboration is faster, problem-solving is sharper, and ideas flow more freely.
