Manufacturing Engineer Intern

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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.

Engine Manufacturing The Engine Manufacturing team is dedicated to delivering high-performance engines and advancing innovative manufacturing systems that continuously improve cost, quality, and lead time. You’re not just executing on designs; you actively provide input that shapes new hardware iterations and regularly interface with engineers to make critical decisions for the Aeon R program. Having successfully developed and refined processes for our initial development engines, the team is now focused on producing flight engines at rate for Terran R’s aggressive launch manifest.

Propulsion Manufacturing

• Define, architect, and establish an optimized, efficient product flow of flight hardware through the Factory
• Identify and solve tooling and work center needs and lead the efforts of standing up key Factory capabilities
• Help drive the development of business tools and processes that will be used to manufacture Aeon R and Aeon V engines and their subassemblies.
• Work closely with other manufacturing engineers, technicians, and cross functional partners to produce and test engine hardware to meet critical path demands.

Fluids Factory

• Lead projects that support precision tube fabrication, including introducing new technologies, new processes, and/or new methods.
• Design fixtures, select equipment, and author work instructions to enable production.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (engineering, quality, and technicians) to resolve manufacturing issues and implement process improvements.
• Document process parameters, best practices, and continuous improvement efforts to support traceability and production scalability for rocket hardware

Stage Manufacturing The Stage Manufacturing team turns design into reality, owning the build of Terran R’s primary structures. This isn’t about turning the same bolt every day; it’s about building the systems to build the rocket. Engineers and technicians work side by side, with deep collaboration and real-time feedback, to shape how we build better and faster. With a manifest and a launch date, it’s up to the team to deliver on Terran R: solving challenges in real time, optimizing for scale, and constantly improving processes. As the vehicle evolves, so will the factory, with opportunities to apply automation, machine learning, and advanced technologies. What we build here sets the blueprint for the future of scaled launch.

Structures Manufacturing

• Own part of a primary structure work center for Terran R, resolving barriers on the shop floor and keeping production moving.
• Champion process improvements across multiple work centers to improve assembly operations and incorporate feedback and learnings for future Terran R builds.
• Collaborate closely with a diverse team of engineers specializing in design, manufacturing, and quality, as well as internal production teams and external vendors, leveraging their collective expertise to drive progress.
• Generate high quality work instructions, specifications, and best practices across multiple high-fidelity processes. Help standardize processes, reduce cycle times, and disposition recurring manufacturing discrepancies.
• Provide Design for Manufacturing feedback to structures teams throughout the development of current and future Terran R block upgrades. Support conceptual and detailed design of tooling assemblies, as well as procurement, commissioning, and initial trial builds to ensure tooling is delivered on time and with the right capabilities.

Nonmetallic Products & Processes

• Support manufacturing operations of non-metallic products and processes for the Terran R launch vehicle, including Thermal Protection Systems, Composites, and primer application
• Drive several first build efforts through process development, assembly sequencing, and documentation authoring
• Develop strong working relationships with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Production and other internal partners to support company objectives
• Provide technicians, production personnel, and manufacturing engineers with responsive issue resolution and support for launch vehicle assembly builds

Machine Shop 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.

CNC Machining

• Lead projects that support machining processes, including introducing new technologies, new processes, and / or new methods.
• Participate in time studies, tool selection, and fixture design to enhance machining performance and reduce cycle times.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (engineering, quality, and machinist, programmers) to resolve manufacturing issues and implement process improvements.
• Document process parameters, best practices, and continuous improvement efforts to support traceability and production scalability for rocket engine hardware

About You

• Pursuing a BS or MS in aerospace, mechanical, manufacturing, or industrial engineering
• Hands-on experience through labs, projects, internships, or hardware teams (rockets, robotics, Formula SAE)
• Strong collaboration skills across engineering, manufacturing, and production teams
• Self-motivated problem-solver who balances a scrappy, get-it-done attitude with a vision for scalable, long-term processes

Nice To Haves But Not Required

• Internship or co-op experience in manufacturing, aerospace, or related fields
• Machine shop, CNC machining, 3D printing, or CAD/CAM software experience (Siemens NX, Mastercam, Fusion 360)
• Familiarity with GD&T, technical drawings, and aerospace materials/processes
• Experience with metal fabrication, welding, or precision manufacturing operations
• Exposure to lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies
• Project management or new product introduction experience in fast-paced environments

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. "