Propulsion Structural Engineer I, Combustion Devices New Long Beach, California

Relativity; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 136,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package

Equity opportunities

Generous PTO and sick leave

Job summary

Relativity Space in Long Beach, California, is seeking a structural analyst to support Aeon‑R propulsion hardware throughout concept, design, testing and flight. The role involves high‑fidelity modeling, data analysis, and risk assessment to guide engineering decisions.

You will apply first principles in structural mechanics and thermodynamics, perform hand calculations and FEM analyses, and collaborate with hardware designers to ensure performance and safety while contributing to future engine

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a science or engineering field.
• 1 or more years relevant experience in structural analysis or structural modeling.
• Experience applying engineering first principles in structural mechanics including but not limited to beam bending, pressure vessels, buckling, etc.
• Experience applying engineering first principles in thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics.
• Familiarity with structural analysis packages (ANSYS, FEMAP, NASTRAN, ABAQUAS, etc.).

Responsibilities

• Support the design and qualification of Aeon‑R combustion devices hardware throughout the entire development cycle, from initial concept through detailed design, testing, and flight, including high‑fidelity modeling, test data analysis, model anchoring, and risk assessment.
• Perform hand calculations and FEM analysis to achieve structural closure, including but not limited to static structural, thermal, fatigue, and damage tolerance analyses.
• Interface with hardware designers to influence design decisions to ensure hardware meets performance and safety requirements.
• Define test objectives that validate analytical models and verify hardware performance.

Skills

Beam bending

Pressure vessels

Buckling

Thermodynamics

Heat transfer

Fluid mechanics

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or science

Tools

ANSYS

FEMAP

NASTRAN

ABAQUAS

Job description

Long Beach, California

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.

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

• Support the design and qualification of Aeon‑R combustion devices hardware throughout the entire development cycle, from initial concept through detailed design, testing, and flight, including high‑fidelity modeling, test data analysis, model anchoring, and risk assessment.
• Perform hand calculations and FEM analysis to achieve structural closure, including but not limited to static structural, thermal, fatigue, and damage tolerance analyses.
• Interface with hardware designers to influence design decisions to ensure hardware meets performance and safety requirements.
• Define test objectives that validate analytical models and verify hardware performance.

About you

• Bachelor’s degree in a science or engineering field.
• 1 or more years relevant experience in structural analysis or structural modeling.
• Experience applying engineering first principles in structural mechanics including but not limited to beam bending, pressure vessels, buckling, etc.
• Experience applying engineering first principles in thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics.
• Familiarity with structural analysis packages (ANSYS, FEMAP, NASTRAN, ABAQUAS, etc.).

Nice to haves, but not required

• Experience with ANSYS Mechanical – Graduate degree engineering or science.
• Working knowledge of engine subsystems, such as combustion devices.

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:

$90,000 - $136,000 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.