Senior Propulsion Test Responsible Engineer

Telemetry Today LLC; Long Beach, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 132,000 - 198,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Generous PTO

Parental leave

Learning stipend

Job summary

Relativity Space is hiring for an integrated engine test role on the Propulsion team. You will develop test plans, execute campaigns with our Stennis team, and own the exploratory operation of new and existing test article designs.

The role blends hands-on testing, data review, and tooling development to advance Terran R engine programs. Success comes from applying fluid mechanics and thermodynamics with strong problem‑solving in a fast‑moving startup culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a science, engineering, technology, or mathematics field.
• 5+ years of experience in engineering system development and/or test.
• Experience applying fundamentals in fluid mechanics and thermodynamics.
• Proven ability to execute high-ownership projects on ambitious schedules.
• Strong collaboration across cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop test plans in collaboration with product owners and execute campaigns with the Stennis team.
• Own exploratory operation of new and existing test article designs and evaluate hardware behavior.
• Write test sequences, review data, and assist with tooling and testing code.
• Hands-on work with test articles and sitting console for hotfire tests as needed.
• Support engine subsystem troubleshooting and broader system analyses.

Skills

Aerospace engineering

Engine testing

Test planning

Problem-solving

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in science/engineering/tech/math

Job description

At Relativity Space, we’re building rockets to serve today’s needs and tomorrow’s breakthroughs. OurTerran R vehicle will deliver customer payloads to orbit, meeting the growing demand for launchcapacity. But that’s just the start. Achieving commercial success with Terran R will unlock newopportunities to advance science, exploration, and innovation, pioneering progress that reaches beyondthe 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. Nowis a unique moment in time where it’s early enough to leave your mark on the product, the process, andthe culture, but far enough along that Terran R is tangible and picking up momentum. The mostmeaningful 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 is on the Engine Systems & Test Team. Our work spans simulation & software tools; system-levelarchitecture, requirements, and interfaces; component & integrated system hotfire testing; and more. Wecollaborate closely with component engineers, our manufacturing team, our Stennis test team, and our Capelaunch team to deliver engines that will successfully propel the Terran rocket to orbit. We strive for continuousimprovement 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 spanseveral 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 testcampaigns 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 intothe evaluation of test hardware behavior in support of continuous engine development andcertification.
  • This role is extremely varied day-to-day and, in addition to overall campaign ownership, caninclude 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 tocompletion. You should be always looking for ways to improve yourself & learn more about the systems thatinterface with yours – who will leverage the training & mentorship we provide to grow as an engineer and anindividual. 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 andrisk.

• 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.