Launch Operations Engineer II Cape Canaveral, Florida

Relativity Space, Inc.; Florida; On-site; USD 104,000 - 143,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous PTO and sick leave policy

Parental leave

Annual learning and development stipend

Job summary

Relativity in the Town of Florida, New York, is seeking a Launch Operations Engineer II to oversee live rocket launches. In this critical role, you will conduct tests, optimize launch procedures, and collaborate with engineers under pressure.

Candidates should hold a Bachelor’s degree in engineering and have a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience. This position offers a competitive salary of $104,000 to $143,000 USD, with benefits including PTO, parental leave, and an annual learning stipend.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of relevant engineering experience.
• Strong engineering fundamentals across thermal, structural, electrical, and fluid systems.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively in team environments.

Responsibilities

• Conduct complex propulsion tests and launch operations to evaluate rocket engine performance.
• Create and optimize automated test sequences for reliable execution.
• Command and monitor launch hardware through integrated control systems.

Skills

Engineering fundamentals

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Collaboration

Willingness to work flexible hours

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science

Tools

Object-oriented programming

Telemetry systems

Job description

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. Achieving commercial success with Terran R will unlock new opportunities to advance science, exploration, and innovation, pioneering progress that reaches beyond the known.

About the Team

The Launch team operates at the intersection of every major aspect of Terran R—from stages and payloads to ground systems, launch, landing, and refurbishment. The Cape is the only place where you see it all come together, offering a level of exposure and responsibility unmatched elsewhere in the program. This is where first flights happen, where history is built on top of history, and where the scale of what’s underway is unlike anything in modern aerospace. If you’re looking to define what’s next in space launch and write a new playbook, this is where it happens.

About the Role

As a Launch Operations Engineer II 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 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant engineering experience.
• 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

• 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 U.S. government to obtain clearance for on‑site work at our government partner location in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Compensation & Benefits

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.

Hiring Range:

$104,000 – $143,000 USD

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.