Manager, Vehicle Test Engineering

Relativity; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Relativity Space is seeking a Senior Test Engineering Manager in Long Beach, CA to lead a 4–5 person team focused on vehicle and subsystem checkouts for the Terran R program. You will own test plans, execution, and data workflows across production stages, partnering with design and manufacturing to drive quality and schedule adherence.

You bring 6+ years of avionics hardware experience in a manufacturing setting and a proven ability to build and scale engineering teams.

Qualifications

• BS degree in aerospace, mechanical or manufacturing engineering (or equivalent).
• 6+ years building, testing, and integrating avionics hardware in a manufacturing environment.
• 1+ years managing and growing engineering teams.
• Experience interfacing with design engineering, manufacturing, and production personnel to get the highest quality output.
• Working knowledge of launch vehicle subsystems including structures, propulsion, mechanisms, and high-pressure gas systems.
• Self-starter that can define and roll out a process across a diverse team.
• Experience with launch vehicle systems testing and checkout operations.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of 4-5 Test Engineers and the new Test Infrastructure team.
• Own vehicle test deliverables for final stage integration workcenters including test plans and hours.
• Move team to culture of continuous improvement and hit cycle time goals.
• Create relationships to obtain production demand signals for testing across stages.
• Oversee checkout operations including fluid systems, high/low voltage checks, and verifications.
• Develop vehicle test standards for production, including operator qualification and training.
• Partner with systems engineering to define requirements and data reviews; manage test data.

Skills

Test Engineering Leadership

Team Management

Aerospace Manufacturing

Systems Interfacing

Process Improvement

Education

Bachelor of Science in Aerospace/Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

GSE/Automation Tools

MES/ERP (Nice to have)

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 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.

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, q