Launch Operations Engineer I - Launch Operations

Socket.dev; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 136,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and equity

PTO and sick leave policy

Learning and development stipend

Job summary

Relativity Space is seeking a Launch Operations Engineer I to be at the front row of a live rocket launch, owning critical systems from power-up to liftoff. You will bring disciplined execution to propulsion development and launch operations, guiding missions through preparation, testing, and flight.

You will work hands-on with hardware integration and control software, analyzing telemetry under pressure and collaborating across engineering disciplines to optimize performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, Software Engineering, or Computer Science.
• Strong fundamentals across thermal, structural, electrical, and fluid systems.
• Proven ability to collaborate under high‑pressure, schedule‑driven conditions.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including nights and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Conduct propulsion tests and launch operations to evaluate engine and stage performance.
• Create and optimize automated test sequences, procedures, and data review processes.
• Command and monitor the launch pad and flight hardware through GUIs and control/telemetry systems.
• Perform hardware setup, system configuration, and cross‑disciplinary troubleshooting.
• Analyze test data and collaborate with design engineering to improve rocket performance.

Skills

Engineering fundamentals

Collaboration

Problem solving

Flex hours

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

Tools

Python

Object-oriented programming

Telemetry systems

Job description

About the Team:

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 Role:

As a Launch Operations Engineer I, you will have a front-row seat in the launch control room during one of the most demanding and exhilarating moments in engineering: a live rocket launch. You will not just observe the countdown; you will own critical systems, make real‑time decisions, and help guide a vehicle from initial power‑up through liftoff. In this role, you will bring structure and disciplined execution to complex propulsion development and launch operations, shaping how missions are prepared, tested, and flown. From hands‑on hardware integration in the field to commanding systems through integrated control software and analyzing live telemetry under pressure, you will operate at the intersection of precision, speed, and accountability.

• Conduct complex propulsion tests and launch operations to evaluate rocket engine and stage performance.


• Create and optimize automated test sequences, procedures, and data review processes to ensure safe, efficient, and repeatable execution.


• Command and monitor the launch pad and flight hardware through GUIs and integrated control, automation, and telemetry systems.


• Perform hardware setup, system configuration, and cross‑disciplinary troubleshooting.


• Analyze test data and partner with design engineering to improve rocket system performance based on real‑world results.

About You:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, Software Engineering, or Computer Science; aerospace experience not required. We value diverse backgrounds and perspectives.


• Strong engineering fundamentals across thermal, structural, electrical, and fluid systems.


• Proven ability to collaborate effectively in team environments and perform under high‑pressure, schedule‑driven conditions.


• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.


• Willingness to work flexible hours, including nights and weekends, as required by operations.

Nice to haves but not required:

• Working knowledge of rocket subsystems, including structures, mechanisms, high‑pressure fluid systems, and avionics.


• Hands‑on experience supporting propulsion test and launch operations.


• Intermediate proficiency in object‑oriented programming.


• Proven ability to quickly learn new skills, programming languages, and tools.


• Experience developing user interfaces and operator‑in‑the‑loop automation tools for manufacturing and test.

Successful candidates must clear a background check administered by the US government to obtain clearance for on‑site work at our government partner location in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

At Relativity Space, we are committed to transparency and fairness in our compensation practices. 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:

$90,000 - $136,000 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.

If you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact us at [e-mail].

Please note: Relativity Space does not accept unsolicited resumes, candidate profiles, or referrals from recruitment agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited submission - via email, our website, social media, or directly to an employee - will be deemed the property of Relativity Space, and no fee will be owed absent a current, fully executed agreement with Talent Acquisition that specifically authorizes submissions for the applicable role.