Senior Propulsion Test Responsible Engineer

Relativity Space; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 198,000; Full time

Job summary

Relativity Space is hiring for an integrated Engine Systems & Test role on the Propulsion team in Long Beach, CA. You will develop test plans, run campaigns with the Stennis team, and own exploration and evaluation of test article designs to advance Terran R propulsion development.

This full-time, onsite role focuses on system-level testing, data review, and hands-on work with test articles, with opportunities to write code and contribute to tooling.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in a complex engineering system development and/or test environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in a science, engineering, technology, or mathematics field.
• Strong problem-solving and collaborative work experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop test plans in collaboration with product owners and execute test campaigns with our Stennis team.
• Own exploratory operation of new and existing test article designs to support engine development and certification.
• Write test sequences, review data, work with test articles, and potentially sit at consoles during hotfire tests.

Skills

Problem-solving

Fluid mechanics

Thermodynamics

Collaborative work

Education

Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, technology, or mathematics

Tools

Test equipment operation

Code writing

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.

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 is on the Engine Systems & Test Team. Our work spans simulation & software tools; system-level architecture, requirements, and interfaces; component & integrated system hotfire testing; and more. We collaborate closely with component engineers, our manufacturing team, our Stennis test team, and our Cape launch team to deliver engines that will successfully propel the Terran rocket to orbit. We strive for continuous improvement and support the development of our technical hardware and human teammates alike.

We are hiring for the integrated engine test team (which tests the full engine assembly). Your work may span several different areas depending on your skillset and the team’s needs at the time.

• In the test part of your role, you will serve as a Responsible Engineer for propulsion test articles.
  • You will develop test plans in collaboration with product owners, and you will execute test campaigns with our Stennis team, troubleshooting technical puzzles along the way.
  • You will own the exploratory operation of new and existing test article designs, diving deep into the evaluation of test hardware behavior in support of continuous engine development and certification.
  • This role is extremely varied day-to-day and, in addition to overall campaign ownership, can include writing test sequences, reviewing data, hands‑on work with test articles, writing code, sitting console for hotfire tests, designing tooling, and more.
• Most test roles also involve systems work – on this side of your role, you may support engine subsystem troubleshooting, partner team product investigations, engine system analysis and simulation, trade studies, and more.
• You will also take ownership of projects of your creation to increase our collective efficiency.
• As our vehicle development program progresses, you may have the opportunity to be involved in stage test and flight campaigns – including sitting console for launch operations, defining stage test objectives, and defining flight concepts of operations (CONOPS).

In order to be successful in this role, you should be a self-starter who is capable of leading collaborative projects to completion. You should be always looking for ways to improve yourself & learn more about the systems that interface with yours – who will leverage the training & mentorship we provide to grow as an engineer and an individual. 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.

Work Schedule & Travel

• This role is full-time onsite in Long Beach, CA with an average of 25% travel to our test & launch sites.
• This role may occasionally require weekend work for critical milestones.
• This role requires working shifted schedules (1st and 2nd shift) on a rotating basis

About You

• We believe varied perspectives & backgrounds strengthen our team. Prior experience in aerospace is not required.
• 5+ years of experience in a complex engineering system development and/or test environment Bachelor’s degree in a science, engineering, technology, or mathematics field
• Experience with:
  • Applying engineering fundamentals in fluid mechanics & thermodynamics
  • Problem-solving
  • Working in a collaborative environment
• Demonstrated ability to execute high-ownership projects on ambitious schedules, especially if unconventional solutions are necessary to do so

Nice To Haves But Not Required

• Exposure to test operations environments
• Working knowledge of at least one of the following: combustion devices, valves, heat exchangers, or instrumentation

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].