Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) mechanical engineering alumna Clare Severance ’18  has been honored with a place on the  2025 Society of Manufacturing Engineers 30 Under 30 list. Severance was selected for her early career work and leadership in redefining advanced manufacturing to build a smarter and more sustainable future. 

“Clare is a stellar mechanical engineer who is actively developing technologies that disrupt traditional aerospace and support humanity’s mission to reach Mars and beyond,” said RPI professor of mechanical, aerospace, and nuclear engineering Johnson Samuel, Ph.D., who nominated Severance for this award.  

Severance's passion for space began at a young age, while watching old footage of NASA’s early flight programs and the Soviet launch systems. “I remember being struck by the blend of creativity and precision it took to make those missions work, and it was even more inspiring to find out about the women who made it all possible, many of whom are just receiving recognition for their work so many years later,” said Severance. “In college, it finally clicked that I could be part of that world and that the same kind of hardware I admired growing up was something I could actually help build.” 

Eager to begin making an impact, Severance held multiple internships at NASA and SpaceX while earning her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at RPI. As an intern at SpaceX, Severance worked on radio frequency-transparent composites, a technically challenging but crucial component in the development of cutting-edge spacecraft. Immediately following graduation, Severance began a full-time position at SpaceX, where she was directly involved in Demo-2 (NASA’s first crewed mission launched from the U.S. since 2011), developing custom carbon-fiber seats for the spacecraft and solving key technical issues.  

Now as staff manufacturing engineer at Relativity Space, Severance manufactures complex large-scale metal structures and their integrated assemblies, while also designing the systems, tooling, and equipment used to build them. While at Relativity Space, Severance also contributed to Terran 1, the world’s first launch of a 3D-printed rocket. She has since been working on Terran R, Relativity’s next launch vehicle. 

In true RPI spirit, Severance has also used her expertise in aerospace and manufacturing to fuel other creative passions. Her interest in pottery, driven by a curiosity about glaze chemistry, evolved into a passion for creating art in the form of functional vessels. While at SpaceX, Severance worked on ceramics for high-temperature applications (materials designed to endure the extreme environments of flight) and found pottery to be a tangible, artistic extension of that same science.   

“The intersection of art and engineering has always been where I think most creatively,” Severance said. “Translating principles of materials science and engineering into craft deepens how I approach design, manufacturing, and problem-solving in my professional work.” 

Severance is not only driven to succeed in her own career, she is passionate about helping others find success as well. She has demonstrated her leadership abilities through her founding of the Pride Employee Resource Group, which leads initiatives to advance LGBTQ+ inclusion in aerospace, as well as through her mentoring of and advocating for other women in the field. 

“What sets Clare apart is her rare combination of technical excellence and a true commitment to uplifting others,” said Samuel.  

Severance’s inclusion in the Society of Manufacturing Engineers 30 Under 30 list is a reflection of her engineering expertise and her leadership skills. Given that these are still the early stages of her career, it’s likely she has only scratched the surface of her impact.