Propulsion Design Engineer II, Valves

3M HEALTHCARE; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 104,000 - 143,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and equity

PTO and sick leave

Annual learning and development stiped

Job summary

Relativity Space is hiring to design, analyze, develop and qualify flow control devices for the Aeon R engine and Terran R launch vehicle. You will contribute to cryogenic, pneumatic, proportional, or solenoid valve projects, performing comprehensive CFD/FEA analyses and supporting engine tests.

The role requires a Mechanical Engineering degree, 2+ years of professional experience and proficiency in Matlab, Python or C++.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 2+ years of professional engineering experience.
• Strong grasp of thermodynamics, structures, fluid dynamics and heat transfer.
• Experience with Matlab, Python, or C++.
• Experience with CFD/FEA tools (e.g., ANSYS).

Responsibilities

• Design and analyze flow control devices for cryogenic, pneumatic, proportional, or solenoid valves.
• Perform detailed fluid, thermal, and structural analyses of components and assemblies.
• Plan and execute qualification tests for valves.
• Provide engine and vehicle test support for existing flow control products.
• Conduct trade studies to derive architectures meeting system requirements.

Skills

Matlab

Python

C++

CFD

FEA

Thermodynamics

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

ANSYS

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 Propulsion team at Relativity 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. But designing engines with a quarter million pounds of thrust is just the beginning. 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:

In this role you will be responsible for the design, analysis, development and qualification of flow control devices for the Aeon R engine and Terran R launch vehicle.

Specific responsibilities will include:

• Design and analysis of clean sheet of cryogenic, pneumatic, proportional, or solenoid valves
• Detailed fluid, thermal, and structural analysis of piece parts and assemblies
• Development and qualification test planning and execution of internally developed valves
• Engine and vehicle test support for existing flow control products
• Conducting trade studies to produce architectures and designs that satisfy system requirements

About You:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant engineering discipline (Mechanical or related)
• 2+ years of professional engineering experience
• Direct experience applying engineering fundamentals in thermodynamics, structures, fluid dynamics, and heat transfer
• Experience with programming languages such as Matlab, Python, or C++
• Experience with CFD and FEA tools (ANSYS)

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: $104,000 — $143,000 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].