Senior NDE Inspector, Radiography, Second Shift
- Evenings
How this pay compares
This posting states $73.2k–$110k a year. Open quality engineer jobs in California post a median of $148k a year, the middle half $122k–$166k, across 128 jobs that state their pay, so this one is below the middle half of what they post.
Quality engineers and inspectors in California: pay by town and employer
About the job
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. This is a second-shift position with a standard schedule of Monday through Friday, 2:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. PT.
In addition to base pay, employees receive a 10% shift differential. ## About the Role - Perform advanced Radiographic Testing (RT) inspections on complex aerospace hardware using film and digital/non-film radiographic techniques in cabinet, vault, and field environments - Work closely with RT Specialists, NDE Engineers, manufacturing, quality, and other technical stakeholders to resolve inspection challenges and support the development and execution of feasibility studies, Probability of Detection (POD) studies, and qualification plans - Independently interpret and evaluate radiographic images for relevant indications and determine acceptance in accordance with applicable engineering drawings, specifications, procedures, and acceptance criteria - Develop, document, validate, and publish part-specific radiographic techniques for a wide variety of complex hardware and inspection configurations - Demonstrate an in-depth understanding and practical application of applicable NDE procedures, inspection plans, techniques, codes, standards, and customer requirements - Generate clear, accurate, and comprehensive inspection documentation and reports, including detailed reporting of radiographic image-analysis results and inspection findings - Troubleshoot radiographic inspection processes and equipment, identify potential sources of image-quality degradation, and work with appropriate teams to maintain reliable inspection capability - Provide technical guidance and mentorship to Level I and Level II NDE personnel, including support with technique execution, image interpretation, equipment operation, and inspection best practices - Communicate inspection results, technical concerns, and potential inspection solutions effectively with engineering, quality, manufacturing, and other stakeholders - Support continuous improvement of RT inspection processes, including opportunities to improve inspection reliability, repeatability, throughput, and quality ## About You - 5+ years of relevant aerospace RT experience - Proof of formal NDE classroom training in Radiographic Testing (RT) and a current IRRSP or equivalent radiation-safety certification/card, as applicable - Previous Level II certification in Radiographic Testing (RT) in accordance with NAS 410, SNT-TC-1A, or an equivalent industry standard, with verifiable training, experience, and certification records.
Candidates must be prepared to provide supporting documentation prior to the onsite interview - Demonstrated hands-on experience performing film radiography (CR) and/or digital radiography (DR) inspections on complex hardware - Extensive and verifiable experience interpreting and evaluating radiographic images, including weld quality, discontinuity identification, image quality, and disposition against established acceptance criteria - Strong working knowledge of radiographic inspection principles and techniques, including exposure parameters, geometric unsharpness, image quality indicators (IQIs), sensitivity, source-to-object/detector relationships, and image-quality requirements - Experience performing radiographic inspections in cabinet, vault, and/or field environments and working safely with ionizing-radiation equipment - Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, specifications, work instructions, inspection plans, and acceptance criteria - Demonstrated ability to independently execute established RT techniques, document inspection results, and produce clear and accurate inspection reports - Strong computer skills and proficiency with standard workplace applications used for inspection documentation, image review, data entry, and reporting - Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted and stand or work in inspection environments for extended periods - Ability and willingness to travel approximately 10–25%, as required ## Nice to haves, but not required - Previous certification or experience in additional NDE methods such as PT, VT, UT, and/or ET - Experience inspecting welded assemblies, castings, forgings, composite structures, and/or additively manufactured components using radiographic methods - Experience with multiple radiographic technologies, including conventional film, Computed Radiography (CR), and Digital Radiography (DR) - Experience developing, optimizing, or qualifying part-specific RT techniques and inspection procedures for complex geometries - Experience with digital image processing, image-analysis software, and radiographic image enhancement/evaluation tools - Working knowledge of applicable aerospace and NDE standards and specifications, including NAS 410, ASTM, AWS, ASME, AMS, and customer-specific requirements, as applicable - Experience working with NDE Engineers and Level III personnel on inspection feasibility studies, technique development, qualification activities, and Probability of Detection (POD) studies - Experience performing NDE on additively manufactured materials/components, including complex geometries and varying material densities - Experience with CAD models and engineering drawings to support inspection planning, technique development, and interpretation of complex hardware - Experience interfacing with or auditing third-party NDE suppliers/vendors - Experience with QA/QC systems, root-cause/corrective-action processes, and Lean Manufacturing/continuous-improvement principles 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! To see some of the benefits & perks we offer, ple
From Relativity Space's job posting, checked 7 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.
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About Relativity Space
Builds reusable rockets that make access to space more reliable and routine.
Pay on its listings: 99.7% of its open jobs state an hourly rate
How it pays: Paid as an employee on Relativity Space's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).
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