Staff Propulsion Test Responsible Engineer Long Beach, California

Relativity; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 164,000 - 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

A leading aerospace company in Long Beach, California is seeking a Propulsion Test Engineer to take ownership of propulsion test articles and collaborate with various teams. You must possess at least 8 years of experience in complex engineering systems, a relevant Bachelor's degree, and strong problem-solving skills. The role involves full-time onsite work, approximately 25% travel, and participation in various test and launch operations. Competitive salary range is $164,000 - $225,500 USD, with generous benefits included.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in complex engineering system development and/or test environments.
• Experience applying engineering fundamentals in fluid mechanics and thermodynamics.
• Demonstrated ability to execute high-ownership projects on ambitious schedules.

Responsibilities

• Act as the Responsible Engineer for propulsion test articles.
• Support engine subsystem troubleshooting and product investigations.
• Participate in stage test and flight campaigns.

Skills

Complex engineering system development

Problem-solving

Collaboration

Education

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

Job description

Long Beach, California

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. Achieving commercial success with Terran R will unlock new opportunities to advance science, exploration, and innovation.

Joining Relativity means becoming part of a culture of autonomy, ownership, and impact at every level. You’ll solve problems that haven’t been solved before, help develop a rocket, a factory, and a business from the ground up, and shape decisions across propulsion, manufacturing, software, avionics, and corporate functions.

About the Role

This position is on the Engine Systems & Test Team. Our work spans simulation and software tools; system‑level architecture, requirements, and interfaces; component and integrated system hot‑fire testing; and more. You’ll collaborate closely with component engineers, the manufacturing team, the Stennis test team, and the Capella launch team to deliver engines that will successfully propel the Terran rocket to orbit.

Responsibilities

• Act as the Responsible Engineer for propulsion test articles
  • Develop test plans in collaboration with product owners and execute test campaigns with our Stennis team, troubleshooting technical puzzles along the way.
  • Own exploratory operation of new and existing test article designs, evaluating test hardware behavior in support of continuous engine development and certification.
  • Conduct day‑to‑day activities such as writing test sequences, reviewing data, hands‑on work with test articles, writing code, sitting the console for hot‑fire tests, and designing tooling.
• Support engine subsystem troubleshooting, partner team product investigations, engine system analysis and simulation, trade studies, and more.
• Take ownership of projects you create to increase collective efficiency.
• As the vehicle development program progresses, participate in stage test and flight campaigns, including sitting the console for launch operations and defining stage test objectives and flight concepts of operations (CONOPS).

Travel and Work Hours

• Full‑time onsite in Long Beach, CA; average of 25% travel to test and launch sites.
• May require weekend work for critical milestones.
• Shifted schedules (1st and 2nd shift) on a rotating basis.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in complex engineering system development and/or test environments.
• Bachelor’s degree in a science, engineering, technology, or mathematics field.
• Experience applying engineering fundamentals in fluid mechanics and thermodynamics.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and ability to work collaboratively.
• Demonstrated ability to execute high‑ownership projects on ambitious schedules, often requiring unconventional solutions.

Nice to Have

• Exposure to test operations environments.
• Working knowledge of combustion devices, valves, heat exchangers, or instrumentation.

Compensation

$164,000 - $225,500 USD

Benefits

Relativity Space offers competitive salary and equity, generous PTO and sick leave, parental leave, an annual learning and development stipend, and more.

EEO Statement

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.