Senior Engine Systems Development Engineer

Relativity Space; Long Beach (CA); In loco; USD 132.000 - 198.000; Tempo pieno

Vantaggi offerti da questo lavoro

Competitive salary + equity

Generous PTO & sick leave

Parental leave

Learning & development stipend

Descrizione del lavoro

Relativity Space is hiring in Long Beach for an engine systems engineer focused on Terran R propulsion. You will own engine architecture trades, coordinate interfaces, and push development across design, test, and validation cycles.

You will lead collaborative projects, seek continuous improvement, and contribute to a fast-growing startup culture while traveling about 15% to test and launch sites; occasional weekend work may be required.

Competenze

• Ownership and problem-solving demonstrated in projects or roles.
• Ability to deliver on ambitious schedules with effective teamwork.
• Bachelor’s degree in a science, engineering, technology, or mathematics field.
• Working knowledge of liquid-propellant rocket engines.

Mansioni

• Drive engine system architecture trades and CONOPS; optimize for the vehicle.
• Manage engine interfaces and negotiate requirements to support development.
• Support engine system analysis, simulation, testing, and tool development.

Conoscenze

Fluid mechanics

Thermodynamics

Ownership

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Rocket engines

Formazione

Bachelor’s degree in science/engineering/technology/maths

Descrizione del lavoro

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:

This role may span several areas of our team depending on your skillset and the team’s needs at the time. The core responsibilities are driving engine system (architecture + CONOPS) trades, managing engine interfaces & negotiating requirements to optimize for the vehicle, and supporting engine system development overall. You may additionally support engine system analysis and simulation, engine testing, tool development, and more. In engineering at the system level, you will be expected not just to coordinate & facilitate amongst other technical teams, but to bring your own deep technical acumen to bear on problems in this highly technical role.

In order to be successful in this role, you should be capable of leading collaborative projects to completion with minimal oversight. You should also be a self-starter who is always looking for ways to improve yourself & learn more about the systems that interface with yours. Along with these high expectations comes the opportunity to have a significant influence on a fast-growing startup company and to make rapid professional gains in an environment that encourages growth and risk.

This role requires an average of 15% travel to our test & launch sites and may occasionally require shifted schedules or weekend work for critical milestones.

About you:

• Experience applying engineering fundamentals in fluid mechanics & thermodynamics
• Clear evidence of ownership, problem-solving skills, and effective team collaboration from school or work experience
• Demonstrated drive to deliver on ambitious schedules, even and especially if unconventional & creative solutions are necessary to do so
• Bachelor’s degree in a science, engineering, technology, or mathematics field
• Working knowledge of liquid-propellant rocket engines
• 5+ years of relevant experience, preferably in complex engineering system development and/or test environment

Nice to haves, but not required:

• Working knowledge of fluid components such as valves and instrumentation
• Working knowledge of engine subsystems such as combustion devices and turbomachinery

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: $132,000 — $198,000 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].