Relativity Space

Robotics Kinematics Engineer II

Relativity Space$124K — $186K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • BS required; MS preferred in Robotics Engineering, Control Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
  • 3+ years of experience developing kinematics algorithms for robotic systems.
  • Strong expertise in robot kinematic modeling and calibration methodologies.
  • High proficiency in C++, Linux, and modern software engineering practices; comfortable developing in Python.
  • Experience designing modular, extensible software architectures for diverse robot kinematics.

Responsibilities

  • Develop advanced kinematics algorithms for robotic systems optimized for real-time performance.
  • Own and maintain the kinematics library shared across multiple robotics software products.
  • Develop and maintain calibration tools and methodologies for robot calibration workflows.
  • Serve as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for robot kinematics and motion modeling.

Benefits

  • Competitive salary and equity package.
  • Generous PTO and sick leave policy.
  • Parental leave support.
  • Annual learning and development stipend.
Full Job Description
About the Team:

Relativity Space pioneered large-scale additive manufacturing with our Terran 1 rocket, the largest 3D-printed object to fly. Now a distinct business unit within Relativity, Horizon Manufacturing Technologies is advancing next-generation manufacturing for aerospace and beyond. The team operates at the frontier of manufacturing innovation, where creativity meets capability. This is an environment where cutting-edge R&D is put into production, industrializing advanced manufacturing capabilities to solve customer problems. As member of the Horizon's Robotics Team, you'll work alongside welders, data scientists, and material scientists, creating an end-to-end additive manufacturing platform that serves a wide variety of applications. From exploring new materials to unlocking faster print speeds, to designing complex, organic geometries that can't be built any other way, it's high-impact work that sets the foundation for the future of advanced manufacturing.

About the Role:

We are seeking a Robotics Kinematics Engineer to join the Robotics team at Horizon with broad technical skills and a good balance between theoretical and hands-on mindset to develop and own a crucial backbone for our software infrastructure related with kinematics and calibration. This role is ideal for a software engineer who thrives in cross-functional environments, enjoys owning full projects from design to deployment, and is comfortable navigating ambiguity in a fast-moving R&D setting.
  • Develop advanced kinematics algorithms for robotic systems (6+ DoF), including forward/inverse kinematics and redundancy resolution, optimized for real-time performance.
  • Own and maintain the kinematics library shared across multiple robotics software products.
  • Develop and maintain calibration tools and methodologies supporting a wide range of robot calibration workflows.
  • Serve as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for robot kinematics, motion modeling, and multi-axis synchronization.

About You:
  • BS required; MS preferred in Robotics Engineering, Control Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
  • 3+ years of experience developing kinematics algorithms for both underactuated and redundant robotic systems.
  • Strong expertise in robot kinematic modeling and calibration methodologies using industrial metrology and localization hardware (Leica, OptiTrack, etc)
  • High proficiency in C++, Linux, and modern software engineering practices; comfortable developing in Python.
  • Experience designing modular, extensible software architectures that support diverse robot kinematics and configurations. • Experience with ROS and open-source robotics libraries.

Nice to haves but not required:
  • Experience with multi-robot coordination and synchronization.
  • Experience with mobile manipulators.
  • Experience developing software for real-time robotic systems.
  • PhD in Robotics, Control Systems, or a related technical field.


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, please visit here.

Hiring Range:

$124,000-$186,000 USD

About Relativity Space

Relativity Space is an American aerospace manufacturer that is developing 3D printed rockets. The company was founded in 2015 by Tim Ellis and Jordan Noone, and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Relativity Space's goal is to reduce the cost and time required to produce rockets by using 3D printing technology. The company's rockets are designed to be fully reusable, which could significantly reduce the cost of space launches. Relativity Space has received funding from a number of investors, including Mark Cuban and Playground Global.
Learn more about Relativity Space
Size
200 employees
Industry
Founded
2016

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Relativity Space

More Aerospace & Defense Jobs

Find similar Robotics Kinematics Engineer II jobs: