Staff NDE Engineer

Company Overview:  

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 Relativity Space NDE Engineering Team is dedicated to the integrity of our product while tackling the challenges of our traditional and non-traditional manufacturing methods. We are tasked with developing and executing inspection of a huge variety of materials and components using cutting-edge industry technology and vetting, developing, and deploying automation, machine learning and Statistical Process Control solutions to achieve continuous improvement in efficiency and execution. From designing novel in-house systems and processes that adhere to industry standards, to executing challenging technical inspection operations, our team maintains a steadfast commitment to integrity, efficiency, accuracy, and reliability.

About the Role: 

Your core responsibilities will be:

• Coordinate with process stakeholders, identify applicable external resources, and develop infrastructure to unify manufacturing, quality, and NDE data into central minable database.
• Reduce human factors as feasible through automation in data collection (e.g. scanning, instrument setup, etc.), data routing, and decision making.
• Demonstrate correlation and automated prediction capability between manufacturing defects and process inputs. Demonstrate ability to prevent defects from forming. Certify proof-of-concept with customers.
• Work closely with NDE Level 3s and NDE Engineers to develop and execute feasibility studies, POD’s, and qualification plans incorporating the above.
• Interface with outside stakeholders to ensure that qualification data and documentation is in compliance with applicable external customer’s specifications and/or facilitate and document acceptable alternative methodologies (audit proof).
• Engage in proactive mentorship and provide training and oversight for less experienced Engineers.

About You:  

• BS or MS in a STEM field
• 5+ years verifiable experience as an NDE Engineer or closely related role (i.e., Responsible Engineer or Build Reliability Engineer for vehicle structure, flight hardware, etc.).
• 2+ years verifiable experience developing and deploying automated process control and validation methods in an aerospace NDE setting.

Nice to haves but not required:  

• M.S. and/or PHD in Engineering with a focus on one or more NDE methods.
• Current ASNT Level 3 in one or more methods.
• Experience with inspection of additively manufactured materials, FSW’s, and OTW’s.
• Experience Auditing 3^rd Party NDE service providers and equipment vendors.
• Extensive and verifiable experience contributing to system design and qualification efforts for aerospace customers (i.e. Boeing, Nasa, DoD, Space Force, etc.).
• Baseline competency in advanced NDE data analysis in one or more methods (PAUT, ECA, CT, DR, FMC/TFM).
• Capable of set up, calibration and operation of complex NDE equipment as a part of the vetting and qualification of a variety of potential NDE methods and approaches as we work to identify the most efficient combination of technical approaches to ensure maximum throughput while maintaining a high level of confidence in the quality of our flight components.  Must be ready and willing to be on the shop floor regularly to further this effort.  This is not a desk job.

Relativity Space offers competitive salary and equity, a generous vacation policy, an annual L&D stipend and more! 

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.