Senior Materials & Processes Engineer, Thermal Protection Systems & Soft Goods

Location: Long Beach, California, United States

Department: Materials and Non-Destructive Engineering

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: 

• Be the cognizant M&P engineer of thermal protection systems and non-metallic softgoods for Terran-R flight and reuse
• Identify qualification envelopes, form test plans, execute characterization campaigns, and analyze data for flight qualification and usage
• Develop, implement, and maintain technical specifications and engineering standards
• Drive statistically-driven experimental design and process improvement campaigns
• Interface with:
  • Materials engineers to identify, define, and fill critical technology gaps through Relativity developed + commercially available materials
  • Laboratory staff to characterize materials and processes
  • Responsible Engineers to support materials selection, design and analysis, qualification, failure analysis, flight, and reuse
  • Manufacturing and TPS engineers to develop formulations, processes, troubleshoot issues, and enable cost & rate while maintaining required performance
  • Build reliability and supply chain to ensure compliance and reliability
  • Relativity + Customer Fracture Control Boards to achieve vehicle reuse
  • Leadership to develop technical roadmaps, elevate risks, and overcome roadblocks

About you:

• Bachelor’s degree in materials science or engineering, chemistry, or related field
• 5+ years of experience relevant to the competencies listed below
• Leveling is flexible – please see other posting levels for expectations
• Experience with general M&P activities, such as material selection, process development, qualification, damage tolerance, inspections, risk assessments, and failure analysis
• A core commitment to accountability, collaboration, and execution
• A desire to establish and foster strong interdisciplinary relationships across the company
• An authentic, introspective, and inclusive mindset towards technical, interpersonal, and team growth and development
• Passion to work in a fast-paced and challenging environment on constantly iterating products + processes, driving impact on the Terran-R program as we ramp manufacturing rate + achieve reuse

Nice to haves, but not required:

• Demonstrated ownership and impact of non-metallic materials and their application to aerospace products, such as:
• Corks, foams, ceramics, and related thermal protection materials
• Primers, paints, and coatings for corrosion, thermal, and electrical applications
• Potting, staking, and conformal coats
• Elastomeric gaskets and seals
• Polymer-base material systems for non-structural and structural applications
• Dry film lubricants and greases
• Understanding of cryogenic and high temperature non-metallic material behavior
• Prior work with non-metallic testing standards and procedures
• Familiarity with contamination control and outgassing principles