Senior COPV Engineer

Relativity Space; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 148,500 - 181,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous PTO and sick leave

Parental leave

Annual learning and development stipend

Job summary

Relativity Space in Long Beach, California is seeking a skilled engineer to develop the architecture for gas storage in the upcoming Terran R vehicle. This role is critical for the integration and functionality of rocket systems, with an emphasis on collaboration and innovation.

The ideal candidate will have an engineering background, over 5 years of relevant experience, and familiarity with pressure vessel engineering. The position offers a competitive salary range of $148,500 to $181,500, along with additional benefits like generous PTO and learning stipends.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant technical experience.
• Experience applying pressure vessel engineering fundamentals.
• Experience with fluid and mechanical system design and operation.

Responsibilities

• Develop the architecture for Terran R's gas storage.
• Partner with third-party vendors on gas storage design.
• Establish test campaigns for qualification and acceptance of COPVs.
• Support integration of COPVs on the rocket.

Skills

Pressure vessel engineering fundamentals

Fluid and mechanical system design

Collaboration across teams

Project management

Education

Undergraduate degree in engineering or a technical discipline

Tools

CAD

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 Stage Fluids team designs and delivers the propellant, pressurant, pneumatics, and other fluid systems that turn structures into functioning rockets. The team has full ownership across design, production, test, and flight, maintaining a holistic view of Terran R, focused not on isolated parts but integrated functionality. Working on-site at the factory means you’re never far from the hardware, enabling rapid iteration and tight feedback loops across design and manufacturing. You won’t just be handed requirements: you’ll be expected to ask the right questions, collaborate with partners across the company, and ultimately find the best solutions for Terran R.

About The Role

You will be a part of developing the architecture for the upcoming Terran R vehicle and will be responsible for charting the company’s path for gas storage on a reusable rocket—both near‑term and long‑term.

Projects you could be working on

• Partnering with third‑party vendors in the design and analysis of gas storage COPVs
• Working with other thermo‑fluid engineers on vehicle gas system design and operation
• Establishing test campaigns for the qualification and acceptance of COPVs
• Performing tests and reviewing data
• Supporting integration of COPVs on the rocket
• Selecting, vetting, and managing vendors
• Performing trade studies to improve gas storage solutions for the near future vehicles
• Assessing long‑term COPV design and manufacturing plans

About You

• Undergraduate degree in engineering or a technical discipline
• 5+ years of relevant technical experience
• Experience applying pressure vessel engineering fundamentals
• Experience applying knowledge of fluid and mechanical system design and operation

Nice To Haves, But Not Required

• Experience working with COPVs or other composite structures
• Experience in a creative and fast‑paced development environment, working with autonomy
• Experience with CAD
• Experience with launch vehicle systems

Hiring Ranges And Leveling

• Engineer II: $104,000 – $143,000
• Senior Engineer: $148,500 – $181,500
• Staff Engineer: $164,000 – $225,500

Hiring Range

$148,500—$181,500 USD

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.

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].