Manager, Fabrication - Mechanical

About the Team:

The Stennis Test team designs, builds, and operates Relativity's propulsion and stage test stands. Team members are hands-on with large-scale, complex systems including fully integrated engines and stage assemblies, pushing hardware to the limits and directly contributing to flight readiness. The work is fast-paced and highly operational, ideal for those with backgrounds in aviation, automotive, manufacturing, offshore operations, industrial systems, construction, or adjacent industries. You'll work in a close-knit, dynamic environment where collaboration between technicians, operators, and engineers is not only encouraged, but expected. As the company scales, the Stennis Test team becomes even more critical to unlocking our next phase of growth: proving out full-stage systems and paving the way for routine, reliable flights of Terran R.

About the Role:

• Lead and mentor a team of fabricators and support personnel, including welders, machinists, technicians, precision cleaners, crane operators, and expediters.
• Oversee fabrication activities across multiple domains, such as:
• Fluid systems: piping, tubing, heat exchangers, pumps, compressors, and related components
• Structures: from small pipe supports to large reaction fixtures supporting millions of pounds
• Tooling and mechanisms: engine and stage handling hardware, rigging, and lifting systems
• Projects: ranging from short-term reactive maintenance to multi-year, large-scale construction
• Determine and justify long-term staffing needs; evaluate and recommend outsourcing options based on personnel availability, tooling, and project requirements.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and safety-focused work environment.
• Support fabricators in interpreting engineering drawings and work instructions, including GD&T and 3D models in CAD software.
• Collaborate with engineers to provide feedback on manufacturability, usability, maintainability, and safety during design and construction phases.
• Develop and manage budgets for shop tools, construction equipment, and test stand maintenance; set and monitor inventory requirements.
• Coordinate with vendors and the procurement team to ensure timely delivery of shop equipment and outsourced work.
• Effectively work within a multidisciplinary team of professionals with varying levels of experience and expertise.

About You:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering Technology from an accredited institution; or, an equivalent combination of education, training, and at least four additional years of directly related technical experience in lieu of a formal degree.
• Five (5) or more years of experience in fabrication and maintenance of fluid systems, structures, and machined components.
• Five (5) or more years of supervisory or management experience in a technical environment; experience within rocket test, launch, or tooling operations is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working within cross-functional teams in a fabrication or manufacturing environment, contributing from raw material through final product delivery.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, machines, and materials, including:
• Manual and CNC milling and turning
• Welding, plasma and torch cutting, and sheet-metal forming
• Lifting and rigging practices
• Assembly, inspection, and precision measurement
• Common structural and piping metals and their fabrication characteristics
• Proven ability to manage construction or fabrication projects of varying size and complexity, including developing and tracking schedules, budgets, and resource plans, and coordinating with vendors and contract labor.
• Hands-on experience with fluid component installation and repair work (e.g., pumps, compressors, valves, reliefs, pressure vessels, and heat exchangers).

Nice to haves but not required:

• Experience viewing, measuring, and interpreting 3D CAD models to support fabrication activities (Teamcenter/NX preferred).
• Knowledge of large-scale structural steel transport, lifting, and installation for truck and ocean freight operations.
• Ability to safely work at elevated heights as part of a coordinated team, following all applicable safety procedures.
• Understanding of design for manufacturability and assembly (DFMA), including experience transitioning products from prototype to production.
• Familiarity with high-pressure, cryogenic, flammable, or hazardous fluid systems and components, including precision cleaning and cleanroom assembly practices.
• Experience with orbital tube welding of stainless-steel tubing.
• Welding experience with carbon and stainless steels, including structural and piping systems in both shop and field environments.
• Machining experience in field settings, such as magnetic drilling, flange facing, and line boring operations.
• Rigging experience ranging from small bridge cranes to large off-road cranes, with a strong focus on safety and proper load-handling procedures.

Successful candidates must clear a background check administered by the US government to obtain clearance for on-site work at our government partner location in Stennis, Mississippi.