Materials Characterization Technician II (metallography)
Relativity Space
Materials Characterization Technician II (Metallography)
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
- Will support our Materials Engineering and Test lab for Terran-R and additive materials characterization
- Execute metallographic sample preparation, including sectioning, hot/cold mounting, manual/automated grinding & polishing, optical microscopy, and chemical/electrolytic etching, hardness testing (Rockwell & microhardness (Knoop & Vickers) testing)
- Perform etching of samples using corrosives (acids/bases) and managing hazardous waste
- Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Weld Development and Materials and Process teams to complete tasks
About You
- 2+ years of experience as Materials Testing technician or equivalent in related industry
- Hands-on experience with metallographic sample preparation, sectioning, hot/cold mounting, manual/automated grinding & polishing, optical microscopy, hardness testing and/or chemical/electrolytic etching
- Familiarity with aerospace alloy systems, including aluminum, nickel, titanium, copper, steel, etc
- Fast-learner, ability to juggle multiple tasks and work in a fast-paced environment
Nice to Haves but Not Required
- Experience with optical profilometry and/or density via Archimedes' principle
- Experience with mechanical testing, thermal testing, chemical testing, and/or powder analysis
- Familiarity with additive manufacturing technologies, specifically metal AM technologies including DED, L-PBF, WAAM, etc
- Familiarity with common metals processing techniques, including forming, casting, welding, heat treating, coating, 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! Hiring Range: $27.41 - $35.48 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.