Sr Additive Manufacturing Engineer, PBF

Posted Yesterday
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Long Beach, CA, USA
In-Office
132K-198K Annually
Senior level
Aerospace • Hardware • Robotics • Software • Manufacturing
Building reusable rockets to empower science and exploration.
The Role
Own technical delivery for complex laser powder bed fusion hardware: print programming, build preparation, process specification, qualification, failure investigations, verification plans, and manufacturing execution. Lead cross-functional investigations, drive production recoveries and corrective actions, mentor junior engineers, and represent PBF in program reviews and supplier discussions to scale aerospace flight hardware production.
Summary Generated by Built In

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 Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing team is pushing the boundaries of what's possible in rocket propulsion hardware. Responsible for development, process, and production, the team oversees initial concept to final hardware with rigorous quality and precision. From developing print parameters on state-of-the-art 3D printers to enabling fast iteration for partner departments, the team plays a critical role in taking engine designs from concept to hot fire. The team was instrumental in producing Aeon 1 engines for Terran 1 launch and is now pioneering next-generation processes and designs for our Aeon R engines that will power Terran R. With flight hardware production scaling up rapidly, now is the time to join and make a direct impact!

About the Role:

  • Serve as technical owner for complex PBF hardware families, process-control systems, qualification changes, or high-risk manufacturing issues
  • Own build preparation, print programming strategy, manufacturing planning, and technical execution for assigned PBF hardware or product groups
  • Provide feedback to design team on printability, DfAM improvements, part consolidation opportunities, and manufacturability trade-offs
  • Define and improve PBF process specification architecture, change-control logic, verification requirements, acceptance criteria, and release documentation
  • Develop and maintain controlled PBF process documentation, build standards, work instructions, verification plans, and engineering decision records
  • Lead cross-functional technical investigations involving material failures, machine errors, inspection deviations, process escapes, hardware risk, and recurring nonconformances
  • Translate design, materials, quality, and production requirements into robust build strategies, verification plans, and manufacturing execution paths
  • Drive qualification and requalification strategy for changes to parameters, machines, powder, heat treatment, post-processing, inspection methods, or product-specific controls
  • Make clear technical recommendations under uncertainty, including risk acceptance, containment, retest strategy, production recovery, and long-term corrective action
  • Build scalable systems such as decision-ticket frameworks, dashboards, standards, readiness reviews, lessons-learned libraries, and ownership models
  • Mentor Level I and Level II engineers, review their technical work, and raise the team's standard for crisp writing, evidence-based decisions, and partner-team alignment
  • Represent PBF in program-level reviews, quality escalations, audit discussions, supplier/vendor technical conversations, and strategic planning
  • Identify department-level improvement opportunities that increase throughput, reproducibility, audit readiness, and hardware quality without creating unnecessary bureaucracy

About You:

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
  • 4+ years industry experience in metal additive manufacturing; aerospace manufacturing environment
  • Deep understanding of laser powder bed fusion process controls, qualification logic, manufacturing risk, inspection feedback loops, and documentation requirements
  • Experience owning additive manufacturing products through the AM lifecycle (work orders, non conformances, etc.); through machining and further post processing
  • Experience in developing, analyzing, qualifying, and certifying AM parts for production; certifying for aerospace applications
  • Expertise in post-processing techniques for improved part quality (heat treatment, HIP, machining, surface finishing)
  • Experience with Additive Manufacturing tools such as EOSprint, Magics, 3dxpert, Flow, and CAD tools such as Siemens NX (preferred) or Solidworks
  • Proven track record of leading ambiguous technical investigations and driving cross-functional decisions to closure
  • Ability to influence without authority and drive alignment across engineering, operations, quality, and leadership
  • Strong technical communication skills including specifications, decision records, corrective action summaries, executive-ready risk narratives, and the ability to present to technical and non-technical audiences

Nice to haves but not required:  

  • Experience with EOS production platforms (M400-4, M450-4, M4K), aerospace flight hardware, AS9100 environments, qualification campaigns, M&P release processes, or high-rate manufacturing ramp-ups
  • Knowledge of non-destructive inspection/evaluation (NDI/NDE) methods (CT, X-ray, UT, dye penetrant)
  • Familiarity with statistical process control (SPC), design of experiments (DOE), machine qualification, metallurgical analysis, CT/inspection data analysis, thermal processing, or supplier technical management
  • Experience using Jira, MES/ERP systems, Power BI, Tableau, Python, Minitab, or other tools for workflow management and technical data analysis

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.

Hiring Range:
$132,000$198,000 USD

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].


Skills Required

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
  • 4+ years industry experience in metal additive manufacturing in an aerospace manufacturing environment
  • Deep understanding of laser powder bed fusion process controls, qualification logic, manufacturing risk, and inspection feedback loops
  • Experience owning additive manufacturing products through the AM lifecycle (work orders, nonconformances) including machining and post-processing
  • Experience developing, analyzing, qualifying, and certifying AM parts for production, including aerospace certification experience
  • Expertise in post-processing techniques (heat treatment, HIP, machining, surface finishing)
  • Proven track record leading ambiguous technical investigations and driving cross-functional decisions to closure
  • Strong technical communication skills: specifications, decision records, corrective action summaries, executive risk narratives, and presentations
  • Experience with additive manufacturing tools such as EOSprint, Magics, 3DXpert, Flow
  • Experience with CAD tools such as Siemens NX (preferred) or SolidWorks
  • Ability to influence without authority and drive alignment across engineering, operations, quality, and leadership
  • Familiarity with qualification campaigns, AS9100 environments, machine qualification, SPC/DOE, NDI/NDE methods, or supplier technical management
  • Experience using Jira, MES/ERP systems, Power BI, Tableau, Python, or Minitab for workflow management and technical data analysis

Relativity Space Compensation & Benefits Highlights

  • Healthcare Strength Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with company‑funded HSA contributions, mental‑health resources, and One Medical are highlighted. EAP access, a wellness stipend, and gym discounts further reinforce the health and wellness offering.
  • Parental & Family Support Generous parental leave and a $10,000 stipend for fertility, adoption, and other family‑building needs are prominently offered. Adoption assistance, a return‑to‑work program, partnership with Carrot Fertility, and an onsite Mother’s Room add depth.
  • Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits Everyday perks include complimentary lunches/snacks, visiting food trucks, quarterly barbecues, offsites, and milestone celebrations. An annual learning stipend, Lunch‑and‑Learns, and conference access support growth and day‑to‑day engagement.

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The Company
HQ: Long Beach, CA
2,200 Employees
Year Founded: 2016

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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Relativity Space Offices

OnSite Workspace

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.

Typical time on-site: None
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HQThe Wormhole
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Launch Complex 16
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NASA Stennis Space Center
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Kent, WA
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Washington, DC
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