Vehicle Systems Engineer Intern

RippleMatch Inc.; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Relativity Space in Long Beach is seeking a Systems Engineer to oversee the Terran R lifecycle—from design and development to integrated testing and launch.

You will collaborate with structures, mechanisms, fluids, propulsion, and avionics teams to drive requirements and verification planning while tackling complex problems with both creativity and rigor.

This role values hands-on experience across the lifecycle from personal projects or internships and a can-do mindset in ambiguous environments.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience across an entire project lifecycle.
• Ability to work in ambiguity and define scope.
• Experience with personal projects, clubs or internships across lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Terran R lifecycle from design to launch.
• Collaborate with structures, mechanisms, fluids, avionics and more.
• Perform design trade studies, cross-cut analyses, and verification planning.

Skills

Python

Jira

Confluence

Propulsion Systems

Mechanical Systems

Electromechanical systems

Robotics

Rockets

Job description

At Relativity Space,we’rebuilding 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. Butthat’sjust 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'renot just executing tasks;you'resolving problems thathaven’tbeen solved before, helping develop a rocket, a factory, and a business from the ground up. Whetheryou’rein propulsion, manufacturing, software, avionics, or a corporate function,you’llcollaborate 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 storieswe’rewriting together. Now is a unique moment in timewhereit’searly 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 Systems Engineering team ensures that Terran R comes together as a cohesive, high-performing, and scalable system. Within the department, one team focuses on building tools and processes to manage requirements, track decisions, andidentifyand mitigate risk - enabling faster, more informed development across the program. Engineers work across domains to understand complex problems,identifysolutions, and implement them – all with deep technical knowledge, not just documentation. The other team focuses on the vehicle itself, working across teams to ensure all subsystems of Terran R function together as intended, burning down technical risk, and driving informed decisions at every stage of the vehicle lifecycle. Engineers are empowered to lead high-impact efforts, from major test campaigns to console operations during launch, and are trusted to drive improvements across fluids, structures, avionics, and more. Regardless of which teamyou’reon,you’llbe part of a high-visibility, high-impact department at a pivotal moment in the program, where decisions madetoday ontrades, architecture, and process will shape not just the first launch, but the long-term trajectory of Relativity.

About the Role

• In this roleyou'lloversee the entire lifecycle of Terran R -from design and developmentto integrated testing, to launch

• You will have the opportunity to work alongside multiple groupsincludingstructures, mechanisms, fluids, prop, avionics, and integrated analysis

• Types of activities you might be assigned: completing design trade studies, performing cross cutting analysis, driving requirements and verification planning to closure, creating automation scripts, developing concept of operations, planning test, reviewing data, and managing vehicle configuration

About You

• Youare able tosee the big picture but drill down into details and performing detailed work

• You thrive in ambiguity with the ability to define scope that drives the project forward and to completion

• You are more than willing to jump in where and when needed on projects at various stages of the lifecycle

• You have hands on experience through personal projects, club activities, orpreviousinternships that encompass the entire lifecycle of a project

Nice to Haves but Not Required

• Experience with: Python, Jira, Confluence, Propulsion Systems, Mechanical Systems, Electromechanical systems, Robotics, Rockets

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminateon the basis ofrace, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.