Manager, Vehicle Test Engineering

Relativity Space; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 152,000 - 228,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous PTO and sick leave

Parental leave

Learning and development stipend

Job summary

Relativity Space is seeking a Test Engineering Manager to lead a 4-5 person team focused on vehicle test, GSE/automation, and production checkouts for Terran R manufacturing. You will drive continuous improvement, optimize test cycles, and align test plans with Stage 1/Stage 2 requirements and campaign ownership.

The role requires strong leadership, avionics hardware experience in manufacturing, and the ability to define scalable test processes across multiple subsystems.

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• 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

Skills

Team leadership

Test engineering

Manufacturing experience

Systems integration

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor of Science in aerospace, mechanical, manufacturing engineering, or equivalent

Tools

GSE tooling

Test automation frameworks

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 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, 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

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