Staff Propulsion Engineer, Valves

Relativity Space; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 176,000 - 225,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and equity

Generous PTO and sick leave

Parental leave

Annual learning and development stipend

Job summary

Relativity Space in Long Beach, California, is seeking an experienced engineer to design and qualify flow control devices for the Aeon R engine and Terran R launch vehicle. The ideal candidate will have over 7 years of experience in engineering and a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field. You'll be responsible for detailed analysis, design work, and collaboration across teams to drive innovation. The role comes with a competitive salary range of $176,000 to $225,500 and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional engineering experience required.
• Direct experience applying engineering fundamentals in relevant fields.
• Experience with programming and analytic tools is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Design and analyze control devices for the Aeon R engine.
• Conduct fluid and structural analysis for launch vehicle components.
• Plan and execute testing for internally developed valves.

Skills

Engineering fundamentals in thermodynamics

Fluid dynamics

Heat transfer

Programming languages (Matlab, Python, C++)

CFD and FEA tools (ANSYS)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related

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:

In this role you will be responsible for the design, analysis, development and qualification of flow control devices for the Aeon R engine and Terran R launch vehicle.

• Design and analysis of clean sheet of cryogenic, pneumatic, proportional, or solenoid valves
• Detailed fluid, thermal, and structural analysis of piece parts and assemblies
• Development and qualification test planning and execution of internally developed valves
• Engine and vehicle test support for existing flow control products
• Conducting trade studies to produce architectures and designs that satisfy system requirements

About You:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant engineering discipline (Mechanical or related)
• 7+ years of professional engineering experience
• Direct experience applying engineering fundamentals in thermodynamics, structures, fluid dynamics, and heat transfer
• Experience with programming languages such as Matlab, Python, or C++
• Experience with CFD and FEA tools (ANSYS)

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: $176,000 — $225,500 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].