Manager of Vehicle Test Engineering

Relativity Space; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision coverage

401(k)

Equity

Generous PTO and holidays

Learning stipend

Job summary

Relativity Space is seeking a Senior Manager of Test Engineering within its Manufacturing organization in Long Beach, CA. You will lead a team of 4–5 Test Engineers and a Test Infrastructure group, guiding vehicle and subsystem checkouts, test plans, and data validation for production-ready stages.

You will drive continuous improvement in test efficiency, quality, and throughput, collaborating with design, manufacturing, and program management to meet stage cycle time goals and production demand

Qualifications

• BS in aerospace, mechanical, manufacturing engineering or equivalent.
• 6+ years building, testing, and integrating avionics hardware in manufacturing.
• 1+ years managing and growing engineering teams.
• Experience with launch vehicle systems testing and checkout operations.
• Self-starter with ability to define and own processes from scratch and roll out across a diverse team.
• Experience with AS9100 quality practices.
• Experience onboarding MES + ERP.
• Experience bringing a product from 1 to scaling.

Responsibilities

• Own test infrastructure strategy and roadmap, including automation systems and checkout racks.
• Lead and grow a team of Test Engineers and a dedicated Test Infrastructure group.
• Drive test plan development, hours forecasting, and on-time execution for vehicle checkouts.
• Improve cycle times, first pass yield, and production readiness across stages.
• Coordinate with design engineering and manufacturing to define requirements and data reviews.
• Ensure data collection, post-processing, and validation for vehicle checkout milestones.
• Forecast manifest demands and align with leadership to maintain schedule.

Skills

Leadership

Data-driven decision making

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

BS in aerospace/mechanical/manufacturing engineering

Tools

MES

ERP

Job description

• The Manufacturing team at Relativity Space is currently deep in manufacturing trades and process development for Terran R, our next generation, fully re-useable rocket
• This team has a wide variety of responsibilities—from determining the most efficient factory floor layout, to developing and implementing complex tooling and processes, and even interfacing with the vehicle engineering team to heavily influence the design of the rocket
• Unique to Relativity, you will get to work across many teams to iterate and support Relativity’s first-of-its-kind 3D printing software and robotics technology
• Manage a team of 4-5 Test Engineers, including the new Test Infrastructure team that is responsible for developing GSE/automation/etc. for production utilization. Own all Vehicle Test deliverables for the final stage integration workcenters including test plans, planned hours
• Move team to culture of continuous improvement – including reducing test cycle time, determining how we hit stage cycle time goals within these test demands, improve first pass-yield with the build team, etc
• Create strong relationship for how to get production demand signal from Stage 1, Stage 2, and Thrust Structure. Manage how the team engages with campaign ownership for test and how we can get more technicians into test-based roles, including defining desired test configurations for each product
• Own execution and process for all vehicle and subsystem checkout operations including fluid system leak checks, low voltage and high voltage checkouts, and functional verifications. Includes readiness for test from a GSE, test plan, and personnel perspective. Oversee test directors and execution owners who run checkouts on the factory floor
• Develop vehicle test standards for production including production asset control, qualification of operators, a training plan, etc
• Partner with systems engineering to define requirements and data reviews. Own test data collection, post-processing, and storage for vehicle checkouts – ensuring the Validation and Verification matrix is complete for items pre-ship to downstream sites
• Own the strategy and roadmap for vehicle test infrastructure including automation systems, test GUIs, GSE, and checkout racks. Drive to develop automated test frameworks and require design process for these items for production utilization
• Manage manifest demands through forecasting for your workcenters, working closely with upper leadership and program management to maintain schedule alignment. Make data driven decisions

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision coverage
• Additional stipend for employee wellness
• 401(k)
• Equity
• 11 company holidays & generous PTO
• Monthly lunches, game nights, holiday celebrations, and offsite events
• Generous parental leave and provide a $10,000 stipend for fertility, adoption, and other family-building benefits
• $2,000 annual learning stipend
• Constant training opportunities, company Lunch and Learns, and access to industry conferences

Experience with launch vehicle systems testing and checkout operations. Have operated test previouslyBachelor of Science degree in aerospace, mechanical, manufacturing engineering, or equivalent6+ years of experience building, testing, and integrating avionics hardware in a manufacturing environment1+ years of experience in managing and growing engineering teamsSelf-starter that has demonstrated the ability to define and own a process from scratch and roll out that process through adept communication to a diverse teamWorking knowledge of other launch vehicle subsystems including structures, propulsion, mechanisms, and high-pressure gas systemsExperience interfacing with design engineering, manufacturing, and production personnel to get the highest quality outputExperience with implementing AS9100 quality practicesExperience with onboarding MES + ERPExperience bringing a product from 1 to scaling