Engine Systems Design & Analysis Team- Senior Propulsion Design Engineer

Relativity Space; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 142,000 - 182,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in aerospace technology is seeking a skilled engineer to join their innovative propulsion team. This role involves designing and optimizing propulsion systems for a groundbreaking reusable rocket, contributing to the future of space exploration. You'll work in a dynamic environment, collaborating with various teams to bring cutting-edge designs to life. If you thrive in fast-paced settings and have a passion for aerospace engineering, this opportunity is perfect for you. Join a community dedicated to pushing the boundaries of technology and shaping the future of interplanetary travel.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Equity options

Generous PTO

Sick leave policy

Parental leave

Annual learning stipend

Qualifications

• 5+ years of design experience required, preferably in aerospace.
• Bachelor's degree in an engineering field is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for layout, design, analysis, and build of propulsion systems.
• Collaborate with teams to optimize designs based on analytical models.

Skills

Design Experience

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

Mechanical Design

Fluid Fundamentals

Thermal Fundamentals

Structural Fundamentals

Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

Large CAD Model Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

Ansys

Abaqus

Nastran

Siemens NX

Teamcenter

Job description

At Relativity Space, we have two audacious goals: to build the next great commercial launch company with Terran R and to become America's leading force in additive manufacturing innovation. Both contribute to our long-term vision of creating humanity’s industrial base on Mars, paving the way for interplanetary life to expand the possibilities of the human experience. This journey begins right here on Earth – where we design, build, and fly rockets to deliver customer payloads to orbit. Terran R, our medium-to-heavy lift reusable rocket, fulfills the growing demand for launch capacity, thanks to our iterative approach that accelerates design, testing, and development while minimizing costs. While our groundbreaking research and development in 3D printing pushes the boundaries of large-scale additive manufacturing.

Your journey with us is more than just a job – it’s an opportunity to shape the future of aerospace technology, additive manufacturing, and the human experience alongside a community of passionate, creative individuals. Join us on this extraordinary journey, as we work together to transform our vision into reality.

About the Team:

The Propulsion team at Relativity is responsible for the successful development of the engines that will power the Terran R vehicle. We own their design from concept through to launch and reuse. Our team partners heavily with Manufacturing, Test, Launch, and Integration teams, striving to develop our engines in record time and to support Terran R's first launch in 2026. As part of this team, you will help build, test, and iterate on the full product lifecycle of our Aeon-R engine systems, seeing them mature and eventually bring Terran R into space.

About the Role:

You will be responsible for the overall layout, design, analysis, and build of hardware for our Aeon-R propulsion systems. You will work closely with other propulsion teams, the vehicle team, manufacturing/integration teams, and test teams to design, analyze, and optimize. Designs will be informed by both fluid and structural analytical and computational models. Engine assembly level layouts and trades will be weighed against weight, cost, lead time, and part count. To be successful in this role, you should be someone who thrives in ambiguity and is able to lead their own projects to completion.

About You:

• 5+ years of professional design experience
• Bachelor's degree in an engineering field
• Experience with computer aided design (CAD) software
• Experience with mechanical design
• Experience applying fluid, thermal, and structural fundamentals
• Experience with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and commercial tools such as Ansys, Abaqus, or Nastran
• Experience with large CAD model management, change management, and configuration management

Nice to haves, but not required:

• Experience with Siemens NX and Teamcenter, specifically
• Experience in the design of liquid propulsion components and systems
• Familiarity with aerospace standards (AS, NAS, SAE, etc.)

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: $142,000 — $181,500 USD

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.