Manager, Build Reliability Engineering Verified today
About the Team
The Reliability team at Relativity Space ensures quality is built into every stage of the Terran R design and production process, embedding reliability from the very beginning. The team works directly with design, manufacturing, test, and launch teams to stay close to the hardware, understand constraints, and proactively shape decisions. As the program moves from development into production and scaled operations, your role is to establish the right processes, controls, and inspections without slowing progress. The team plays a key role in balancing risk, fostering a culture of ownership, and making sure speed never comes at the cost of reliability.
About the Role
- Manage and develop a team of Build Reliability Engineers, setting priorities, reviewing technical work, staying hands-on with hardware and process, and building the skills and career paths of direct reports
- Drive complex failure analysis using Fault Tree processes for critical manufacturing and field failures, ensuring corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) are validated and sustained to prevent recurrence
- Integrate Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and predictive modeling into early-stage designs to identify and mitigate risks before production begins
- Partner with NPI (New Product Introduction), Supply Chain, and Operations leadership to resolve reliability issues and influence supplier quality outcomes
- Define and maintain reliability KPIs such as Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF), escapes to next operations, and first-pass yield, reporting progress and risk to cross-functional and executive stakeholders
- Lead risk escalation efforts using disciplined problem-solving methods (e.g., 8D), and build and scale the processes and staffing plan for the function as Terran R moves into higher rate production
About You
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Aerospace, Industrial, or a related technical field)
- 8+ years of experience in Build Reliability, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline, with 2+ years of direct people management experience, including hiring, coaching, and performance management in a high-reliability industry
- Hands-on manufacturing experience is required, with the ability to speak credibly to tooling, process, and build constraints
- Proven track record leading complex, cross-functional programs end-to-end, including defining scope, coordinating across teams, and driving execution without direct authority over all contributors
- Strong working knowledge of quality systems (AS9100/ISO 9001) and core quality tools (APQP, PPAP, FAIRs, PFMEA, Control Plans), with experience driving implementation and compliance
- Demonstrated ability to build processes and teams from the ground up and deploy them across diverse groups, with strong people leadership skills and the ability to earn trust with engineering and manufacturing partners
Nice to Have
- Master's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Aerospace, Industrial, or a related technical field)
- Professional certification such as Six Sigma Black Belt, ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), or PMP
- Familiarity with high-volume inspection methods and data-driven acceptance criteria
- Experience with enterprise applications (PLM, ERP, MES) and proficiency in data analysis
- Comfortable operating in high ambiguity, setting direction where precedent or data is incomplete
Compensation
Hiring range: $128,000 to $192,000 USD. Actual compensation determined based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors. Benefits include competitive salary and equity, generous PTO and sick leave, parental leave, and annual learning and development stipend.