Manager, Propulsion Development Engineering Long Beach, California

Relativity; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and equity

Generous PTO and sick leave policy

Parental leave

Annual learning and development stipend

Job summary

A leading aerospace company in Long Beach, CA is seeking an experienced engineer to lead teams in engine system development for their next-generation rocket. The role involves managing engine interfaces and driving architecture trades while mentoring engineers. Applicants should have a Bachelor's degree in engineering, with over 8 years of relevant experience in complex systems, ideally in rocket engines. The position requires onsite work and offers a competitive salary along with several employee benefits.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of relevant engineering experience in a complex system development or test environment.
• A minimum of 2 years of direct experience with liquid-propellant rocket engines.
• Experience leading teams.

Responsibilities

• Drive engine system trades and manage engine interfaces.
• Lead a team of engineers and provide mentorship.
• Balance support for team growth and make technical contributions.

Skills

Engineering fundamentals in fluid mechanics

Thermodynamics

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a science or engineering field

Job description

Location

Long Beach, California

Company Overview

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 Propulsion team is focused on developing and delivering highly performant and manufacturable engines for Terran R. Engineers are responsible for the entire lifecycle of their parts, from initial design through production to qualification and flight. The team fosters a culture of bottoms‑up decision‑making, free from technical gatekeeping, where ownership and accountability are key at all levels. As the flight configuration enters qualification, the team is now exploring modifications for future engines, including thrust upgrades, new cycles, and design for mass production.

About the Role

This role may span several areas of our team depending on your skillset and the team’s needs at the time. Core technical responsibilities include driving engine system (architecture + CONOPS) trades, managing engine interfaces & negotiating requirements to optimize for the vehicle, and supporting engine system development overall. Additional responsibilities may include engine system analysis and simulation, engine testing, tool development, and more. In engineering at the system level, you will be expected not just to coordinate & facilitate among other technical teams, but to bring your own deep technical acumen to bear on problems in this highly technical role – and to coach the folks on your team to do the same.

Leadership: You will also lead a team of engineers with similar responsibilities. This requires mentorship, project management, establishing priorities, communicating with leadership, providing technical guidance, and recruiting.

Learning: Leaders at Relativity are expected to be both people leaders & highly technical. You will balance your time between effectively supporting your team’s growth and success at Relativity and making direct technical contributions of your own.

Work environment: This role is full‑time onsite at our factory in Long Beach, CA. It requires an average of 15% travel to our test & launch sites and may occasionally require shifted schedules or weekend work for critical milestones.

About You

• Bachelor’s degree in a science, engineering, technology, or mathematics field
• 8+ years of relevant engineering experience in a complex system development and/or test environment, with a minimum of 2 years of direct experience with liquid‑propellant rocket engines
• Experience leading teams
• Experience applying engineering fundamentals in fluid mechanics & thermodynamics

Nice to Haves (but not required)

• Working knowledge of fluid components such as valves and instrumentation
• Working knowledge of engine subsystems such as combustion devices and turbomachinery
• Demonstrated drive to deliver on ambitious schedules, even and especially if unconventional & creative solutions are necessary to do so
• Experience mentoring, managing complex interdisciplinary projects, supporting continuous improvement of the people around you, or participating in growing your team through hiring

Compliance & Eligibility

The person hired will have access to information and items controlled by the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), and, therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.

As defined in the ITAR, “U.S. Persons” include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a “U.S. Person.”

Compensation

Hiring Range: $160,000 - $220,000 USD

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.

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.