Manager, Vehicle Test Engineering

Telemetry Today LLC; Long Beach (CA); Hybrid; USD 152,000 - 228,000; Full time

Job summary

Relativity Space is building a new generation of rockets and manufacturing capabilities. You will lead a team of Test Engineers and a new Test Infrastructure group, owning vehicle test deliverables and driving cycle-time improvements for production checkout.

We seek a hands-on leader with 6+ years in avionics hardware in manufacturing, plus 1+ year in people management. You will partner with design, manufacturing, and production to ensure high-quality outputs and robust testing across stages.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, manufacturing engineering required.
• 6+ years of avionics hardware experience in a manufacturing environment.
• 1+ years of experience managing and growing engineering teams.
• Experience interfacing with design, manufacturing and production personnel.
• Knowledge of launch vehicle subsystems including structures, propulsion, mechanisms, and high-pressure gas systems.
• Ability to define and own a process from scratch and communicate across a diverse team.
• Experience with launch vehicle test and checkout operations.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of 4-5 Test Engineers and Test Infrastructure team.
• Own all Vehicle Test deliverables for final stage integration.
• Improve test cycle time and first pass yield with production teams.
• Define test configurations and engage with campaign ownership for test.
• Oversee vehicle and subsystem checkout operations on the factory floor.
• Develop vehicle test standards for production and operator qualification.
• Collaborate with systems engineering on data reviews and validations.
• Own test data collection, processing, and storage for checkouts.

Skills

Avionics hardware integration

Team leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Process development

Test & checkout operations

Education

Bachelor of Science in aerospace, mechanical, manufacturing engineering

Tools

GSE/automation

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 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’ll get to work across many teams to iterate and support Relativity's first-of-its-kind 3D printing software and robotics technology.

About the Role:

• 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

About You:

• Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace, mechanical, manufacturing engineering, or equivalent.
• 6+ years of experience building, testing, and integrating avionics hardware in a manufacturing environment.
• 1+ years of experience in managing and growing engineering teams.
• Experience interfacing with design engineering, manufacturing, and production personnel to get the highest quality output.
• Working knowledge of other launch vehicle subsystems including structures, propulsion, mechanisms, and high-pressure gas systems.
• Self-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 team.
• Experience with launch vehicle systems testing and checkout operations. Have operated test previously.

Nice to haves, but not required:

• Experience with implementing AS9100 quality practices.
• Experience with onboarding MES + ERP.
• Experience bringing a product from 1 to scaling.

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:

$152,000 — $228,000 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.