Loads and Dynamics Engineer II

Relativity Space; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 103,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

Relativity Space in Long Beach, CA is seeking a structural dynamics engineer for the Integrated Performance team to mature hardware designs through analysis and cross-team collaboration on Terran R. You will develop dynamic loads criteria and support vehicle and ground-system analyses while building predictive models.

Ideal candidates have FE experience and strong Python/MATLAB skills; experience with testing, data analysis, and statistics is valued.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree with emphasis on mechanics and vibrations. Graduate coursework preferred.
• Experience with Finite Element and/or other modeling approaches for dynamic response analysis
• Experience with relevant testing, instrumentation, and data analysis
• Fluency in Python, MATLAB, or similar programming languages for engineering analysis
• Familiarity with statistics and data analysis

Responsibilities

• Drive maturation of hardware designs and ops decisions through analysis, understanding of vehicle and program needs, and proactive communication across teams
• Develop Dynamic loads, levels, and criteria from initial concept through data review for vehicle and supporting hardware for Terran R
• Inform primary structure design and customer load inputs through Coupled Loads Analysis
• Develop and validate random vibration and shock specifications and ensuring hardware across the vehicle is qualified to those specifications
• Build, validate, and document analytical models to generate component load predictions

Skills

mechanics and vibrations

finite element

modeling approaches

testing and instrumentation

data analysis

Python

MATLAB

statistics

Education

Undergraduate degree emphasis on mechanics and vibrations

Graduate coursework preferred

Tools

NASTRAN

VA One

Wave6

LS-DYNA

Job description

At Relativity Space, we’re building rockets to serve today’s needs and tomorrow’s breakthroughs. OurTerran R vehicle will deliver customer payloads to orbit, meeting the growing demand for launchcapacity. But that’s just the start. Achieving commercial success with Terran R will unlock newopportunities to advance science, exploration, and innovation, pioneering progress that reaches beyondthe 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. Nowis a unique moment in time where it’s early enough to leave your mark on the product, the process, andthe culture, but far enough along that Terran R is tangible and picking up momentum. The mostmeaningful work of your career is waiting. Join us.

About the Team:

The Integrated Performance team owns the holistic view of how Terran R comes together, ensuring that every system on the vehicle and ground is capable of achieving our ambitious objectives. The team works across the full launch system, from trajectory design and aerodynamics to reliability analysis and beyond, with direct influence on all parts of the product lifecycle, from conceptual design to post-flight data review. Beyond analysis, team members engage hands‑on with hardware and operations, with the mission and authority to drive meaningful programmatic change. With a unique organizational structure, the integrated performance team spans multiple technical domains and embeds directly with partner teams to solve the hardest multi‑disciplinary problems. The team operates with a rare scale: large enough to support complex development, yet small enough that individual contributors have meaningful impact.

The Loads & Dynamics team works collaboratively with adjacent Flight Sciences teams including Dynamic Environments and Aerodynamics and across the Structures, Mechanisms, Fluids, GNCP, Launch and Test teams to develop robust vehicle, ground system, and component architectures, generate associated loads, maintain and improve related analysis tools, provide design and test guidance, and contribute to performance trades on time and budget while meeting our technical requirements. A high degree of autonomy along with an ability to prioritize work in our fast-paced environment is required.

About the Role:

• Drive maturation of hardware designs and ops decisions through analysis, understanding of vehicle and program needs, and proactive communication across teams
• Develop Dynamic loads, levels, and criteria from initial concept through data review for vehicle and supporting hardware for Terran R
• I nform primary structure design and customer load inputs through Coupled Loads Analysis
• Develop and validate random vibration and shock specifications and ensuring hardware across the vehicle is qualified to those specifications
• Build, validate, and document analytical models to generate component load predictions

About You:

• Undergraduate degree with emphasis on mechanics and vibrations. Graduate coursework preferred.
• Experience with Finite Element and/or other modeling approaches for dynamic response analysis
• Experience with relevant testing, instrumentation, and data analysis
• Fluency in Python, MATLAB, or similar programming languages for engineering analysis
• Familiarity with statistics and data analysis

Nice to haves but not required:

• Graduate degree in engineering or related field
• High-speed or modal data acquisition & signal processing experience
• Experience with NASTRAN, VA One, Wave6, LS-DYNA, or other domain‑specific analysis tools
• Experience with coupled loads analysis (CLA) or multibody dynamics (MBD)
• Experience with liquid rocket engines, launch vehicle analysis, or similar in aerospace

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:

$103,000 - $155,000 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.

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.

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