Lead, Launch Mechanical Engineering

Relativity Space; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 128,000 - 176,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and equity

Generous PTO and sick leave

Parental leave

Annual learning and development stipend

Job summary

A leading aerospace company in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Mechanical Engineer Manager to lead a team focused on designing and developing systems for launch vehicles. This role requires a Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering and at least 3 years of relevant engineering experience. The successful candidate will manage technical projects, mentor engineers, and ensure effective communication with leadership. The position offers a competitive salary range between $128,000 and $176,000, along with a comprehensive benefits package including equity and generous PTO.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of engineering experience in a test or launch environment.
• Demonstrated drive to deliver on tight schedules.
• Strong engineering fundamentals in structures and mechanical design.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of launch mechanical engineers to design interfaces.
• Mentor engineers on engineering practices and fundamentals.
• Communicate with leadership about team progress and risks.

Skills

Leadership skills

Communication

Conflict resolution

Mechanical design

Fluid systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

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. 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 Team

The Launch Mechanical team is responsible for building world class launch facilities to support flights of the Terran R launch vehicle. As part of the team, you will take on the challenge of designing, building, testing, and integrating complex mechanical systems that interface directly with the launch vehicle. You will have the opportunity to be part of a small team of engineers who are responsible for the full engineering cycle on projects that involve static structures, dynamic mechanisms, and control systems using fluid, electrical, and combustion powered sources.

About the Role

• Manage a small, highly talented team of launch mechanical engineers to design mechanisms and tools that interface with the flight vehicle and other ground systems
• Mentor engineers on fundamental and practical engineering practices
• Balance leadership work with individual technical projects
• Directly and indirectly impact the outcome of launch system designs
• Grow the team by recruiting, interviewing, developing training materials, direct mentorship, and performance reviews
• Communicate with leadership about progress, risks, and other team details

About You

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related field
• Varied perspectives & background strengthen our team
• Minimum of 3 years of engineering experience in a test or launch environment
• Strong engineering fundamentals in structures, mechanical design, and fluid systems
• Demonstrated drive to deliver on tight schedules, especially when unconventional & creative solutions are necessary
• Strong leadership skills, including mentorship, communication, conflict resolution, and managing expectations

Nice to Haves But Not Required

• Experience designing, manufacturing, testing, and implementing launch vehicle interface mechanism systems and tooling
• Familiarity with NASA, DoD, Space Force, and other governing body standards
• Working knowledge of common structural materials and manufacturing processes
• Experience designing complex fluid systems, including high pressure gas, cryogenic fluids, flammables, and hydraulics

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

$128,000—$176,000 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].