Vehicle Structures Design Engineer II

ZipRecruiter; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 112,000 - 143,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a pioneering aerospace company dedicated to reshaping the future of human exploration. In this exciting role, you'll engage in the full design cycle for innovative launch vehicles, utilizing cutting-edge 3D printing technology. Collaborate with a passionate team to conceptualize and design structural components, ensuring their performance through rigorous analysis and testing. This is more than just a job; it's a chance to contribute to groundbreaking advancements in aerospace technology while enjoying a competitive salary, generous benefits, and a culture of creativity and collaboration.

Benefits

Generous PTO

Parental Leave

Annual Learning Stipend

Equity Options

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in design engineering.
• Knowledge of structural analysis methods and testing.

Responsibilities

• Designing complex structures and system packaging.
• Analyzing and sizing flight structures for timely design reviews.

Skills

Mechanical Design

Structural Analysis

CAD Tools (NX, Creo, SolidWorks)

Project Leadership

Creativity and Innovation

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Tools

NX

TeamCenter

Nastran

ANSYS

GD&T

SolidWorks

Job description

Job Description

At Relativity Space, we aim to build the next great commercial launch company with Terran R and to become America's leading force in additive manufacturing innovation. Our long-term vision is to create humanity's industrial base on Mars, expanding the possibilities of human experience. Currently, we design, build, and fly rockets to deliver payloads to orbit, with Terran R fulfilling the growing demand for launch capacity through an iterative approach that accelerates development while reducing costs. Our research in 3D printing pushes the boundaries of large-scale additive manufacturing.

Your journey with us is more than just a job – it's an opportunity to shape the future of aerospace technology and human exploration alongside passionate, innovative individuals. Join us to turn this vision into reality.

About the Team

The Structures team designs, analyzes, tests, and manufactures our launch vehicle's integrated structures and flight mechanisms. Team members own hardware throughout its lifecycle and validate it through testing at our Long Beach, CA facility. We leverage Relativity's unique 3D printing technology to develop world-class launch vehicles, playing a critical role in the success of Terran 1 & Terran R, among other milestones.

About the Role

This role involves the full design cycle: conceptualization, design, analysis, manufacturing, and testing of primary and secondary structures such as Thrust Structures, Propellant Tanks, Interstages, and Fairings. Creativity and innovation are essential to reduce mass, parts, processes, and tooling.

Your responsibilities include:

1. Conceptualizing structural load paths and designing complex structures and system packaging.
2. Reviewing load inputs, material properties, and structural requirements.
3. Analyzing and sizing flight structures for timely design reviews and release.
4. Developing and supporting hardware test campaigns.
5. Supporting manufacturing process development.

Success in this role requires self-motivation, adaptability, and project leadership in a fast-paced environment. Mechanical or structural design experience and a track record of collaborative project completion are highly valued.

You will regularly design flight components using NX/TeamCenter, perform analysis with Nastran, ANSYS, or hand calculations, create and release drawings, and support fabrication. Ownership of your designs from requirements to production, along with strong documentation and presentation skills, is essential.

About You

• 2+ years of experience in a design engineering role.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field.
• Proficiency with CAD tools such as NX, Creo, or SolidWorks.
• Knowledge of structural analysis methods and testing.
• Understanding of structural strength, stability, and fatigue failure mechanisms.

Nice to Have

• 3+ years of mechanical or structural design & analysis experience.
• Experience with NX/TeamCenter, Nastran, ANSYS, GD&T, and drafting.

Relativity Space is committed to transparency and fairness in compensation, which depends on experience and qualifications. Our total rewards include competitive salary and equity, generous PTO, parental leave, an annual learning stipend, and more. For details, please visit our benefits page.

Hiring Range: $112,000—$143,000 USD

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, veteran status, or other protected categories.