Manager, Systems Engineering

Relativity Space; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 240,000; 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

Relativity Space in Long Beach, California is seeking a Systems Engineering Lead to drive team processes and manage existing engineering workflows. This position involves mentoring team members and ensuring effective risk management throughout the product lifecycle.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's degree in Engineering and over 5 years of experience with systems engineering roles, ideally across multiple programs from concept through production.

Compensation ranges from $160,000 to $240,000 USD, with comprehensive benefits including competitive salary and equity.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in technical positions related to system engineering.
• Full product lifecycle experience on at least one program, preferably two or more.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team driving the existing Systems Engineering process.
• Streamline new processes for ambitious launch ramp rates.
• Ensure proper verification activities occur at the right time.

Skills

Systems engineering

Team leadership

Problem-solving

Risk management

Process improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or technical field

Tools

Systems engineering tools

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 Systems Engineering team ensures that Terran R comes together as a cohesive, high‑performing, and scalable system. Within the department, one team focuses on building tools and processes to manage requirements, track decisions, and identify and mitigate risk – enabling faster, more informed development across the program. Engineers work across domains to understand complex problems, identify solutions, and implement them – all with deep technical knowledge, not just documentation. The other team focuses on the vehicle itself, working across teams to ensure all subsystems of Terran R function together as intended, burning down technical risk, and driving informed decisions at every stage of the vehicle lifecycle. Engineers are empowered to lead high‑impact efforts, from major test campaigns to console operations during launch, and are trusted to drive improvements across fluids, structures, avionics, and more. Regardless of which team you’re on, you’ll be part of a high‑visibility, high‑impact department at a pivotal moment in the program, where decisions made today on trades, architecture, and process will shape not just the first launch, but the long‑term trajectory of Relativity.

About the Role:

• Work closely with engineering leadership across the company ensuring the systems engineering tools and processes are enabling responsible engineers to move fast while also providing the right amount of engineering rigor to prevent downstream issues
• Focus on creating and rolling out new processes while focusing on streamlining and eliminating processes that are no longer effective or does not scale with the ambitious launch ramp rate
• Manage a team of engineers who are helping drive the existing Systems Engineering process while also focusing on reducing risk at the Subsystem and Component level as we step into Stage Testing
• Look broadly at existing requirements to make sure verification actives are occurring at the right time and are burning down risk prior to stage testing
• Ensure other test objectives are properly captured at the subsystem level and all affected parties are aligned on how the objectives will be met
• Mentor team members and engineers in other departments while providing a second set of technical eyes ensuring processes are being leveraged to help burn down technical risk

About You:

• Bachelors degree in Engineering or technical field
• 5+ years of experience in technical positions working on system engineering, system definition, design, and development, system architecture, system integration, and/or T&E.
• Full product lifecycle experience on at least one program, preferably two or more (from concept through production/operations)
• Proven ability to work in a dynamic environment that includes working with changing needs and requirements.

Nice to haves but not required:

• Previous people leadership experience

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:

$160,000—$240,000 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].