Lead, Build Reliability Engineer

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, this is the time 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. Success means creating a quality system that scales with the Terran R program and Relativity as a whole. 

About the Role:

• 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 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, translating data into actionable insights for cross-functional stakeholders.
• Own qualification testing programs, including Accelerated Life Testing (ALT) and environmental stress screening, to validate product lifespan and reliability targets.
• Lead risk escalation and resolution efforts, applying disciplined problem-solving methodologies (e.g., 8D) to drive rapid recovery on quality or capacity issues.
• Provide technical direction and day-to-day guidance to other engineers, ensuring alignment on priorities and deliverables. 

About You:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Aerospace, Industrial, or a related technical field).
• 7+ years of experience in Build Reliability, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline, ideally within aerospace or a high-reliability/safety-critical industry, with demonstrated ownership of complex, cross-functional programs.
• Proven ability to lead projects and 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 from the ground up and deploy them across diverse teams. 

Nice to haves but not required:  

• 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.