Manager, Supplier Development Engineering

At Relativity Space were building rockets to serve todays needs and tomorrows breakthroughs. OurTerran R vehicle will deliver customer payloads to orbit meeting the growing demand for launchcapacity. But thats just the start. Achieving commercial success with Terran R will unlock newopportunities to advance science exploration and innovation pioneering progress that reaches beyondthe known.

Joining Relativity means becoming part of something where autonomy ownership and impact exist at every level. Here youre not just executing tasks; youre solving problems that havent been solved before helping develop a rocket a factory and a business from the ground up. Whether youre in propulsion manufacturing software avionics or a corporate function youll 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 were writing together. Nowis a unique moment in time where its early enough to leave your mark on the product the process andthe culture but far enough along that Terran R is tangible and picking up momentum. The mostmeaningful work of your career is waiting. Join us.

About the Team:

The Quality team is focused on embedding quality into every part of the design and production process for Terran R. As the Manager of Supplier Development Engineering you will own and scale the quality system and the team responsible for ensuring a robust capable and compliant supply chain. You will be responsible for defining the teams strategy setting key performance indicators (KPIs) and developing the engineering talent necessary to support the scaled production of the Terran R program.

About the Role:

Leadership Strategy & Management

• People Leadership: Lead coach and mentor a team of Supplier Development Engineers fostering a culture of ownership data-driven decision-making and continuous professional development.
• Strategic Oversight: Develop the long-term supplier development strategy and capability roadmap in alignment with Terran Rs production and launch milestones and overall quality objectives.
• Process Ownership: Define deploy and enforce the Supplier Quality Management System policies and procedures across the supply base to ensure compliance with standards like AS9100 and ISO 9001.
• Performance Management: Establish and manage the key metrics (e.g. PPM on-time PPAP approval yield) and utilize supplier scorecards to monitor report and drive improvement across critical suppliers.
• Risk & Issue Escalation: Own the escalation and resolution of major supplier-related quality or capacity issues providing technical direction to the team using disciplined problem-solving methodologies like 8D.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Act as the primary liaison between Supplier Development internal Engineering Manufacturing and Supply Chain leadership to ensure alignment on supplier qualification technical requirements and New Product Introduction (NPI) goals.

Functional & Technical Execution

• Supplier Qualification & NPI: Oversee the teams efforts to identify evaluate and qualify new suppliers and processes for NPI ensuring early supplier involvement to meet aggressive product timelines.
• Process Assurance: Drive the effective application of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) principles across the supply base including rigorous Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) reviews during the design phase.
• Deliverable Approval: Manage the review and approval of Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) and First Article Inspection Reports (FAIRs) ensuring all critical components and assemblies meet quality and engineering specifications.
• Continuous Improvement: Direct the team in conducting process audits and implementing Lean methodologies and Six Sigma principles at supplier sites to improve yield cycle time and overall manufacturing robustness.
• Technical Authority: Ensure the team serves as the technical point of contact resolving complex manufacturing and quality issues (including GD&T tooling and materials) to protect production schedules for Terran R parts.

About You:

• Bachelors degree in Engineering (Mechanical Aerospace Industrial or a related technical field).
• 8 years of experience in Supplier Quality Supplier Development or Manufacturing Engineering ideally within the aerospace or a high-reliability/safety-critical industry.
• 3 years of direct people management experience including coaching mentorship and performance management of an engineering team.
• Expert knowledge of quality systems (AS9100/ISO 9001) and core quality tools (APQP PPAP FAIRs PFMEA Control Plans).
• Proven ability to define and own a process from scratch and roll it out to a diverse team.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% of the work week when needed.

Nice to haves but not required:

• Professional Certification such as Six Sigma Black Belt ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE) or PMP.
• Familiarity with high-volume inspection methods and data-driven acceptance methods.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise applications (i.e. PLM ERP MES) and proficient in data analysis.

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.

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