Staff Engine Systems Development Engineer

Posted 7 Hours Ago
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Long Beach, CA
176K-226K Annually
Senior level
3D Printing • Aerospace • Hardware • Robotics • Software
We are building the future of aerospace.
The Role
The Staff Engine Systems Development Engineer will drive the development of the Aeon-R engine systems, managing architecture, interfaces, and requirements. The role involves system analysis, simulation, and testing, completing projects with minimal oversight and collaborating with various teams to meet ambitious launch schedules.
Summary Generated by Built In

At Relativity Space, we have two audacious goals: to build the next great commercial launch company with Terran R and to become America's leading force in additive manufacturing innovation. Both contribute to our long-term vision of creating humanity’s industrial base on Mars, paving the way for interplanetary life to expand the possibilities of the human experience. This journey begins right here on Earth – where we design, build, and fly rockets to deliver customer payloads to orbit. Terran R, our medium-to-heavy lift reusable rocket, fulfills the growing demand for launch capacity, thanks to our iterative approach that accelerates design, testing, and development while minimizing costs. While our groundbreaking research and development 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, additive manufacturing, and the human experience alongside a community of passionate, creative individuals. Join us on this extraordinary journey, as we work together to transform our vision into reality.

About the Team: 

The propulsion team at Relativity is responsible for the successful development of the engines that will power the Terran R vehicle. We own their design from concept through to launch and reuse. Our team partners heavily with manufacturing, test, launch, and integration teams, striving to develop our engines in record time and to support Terran R's first launch in 2026. As part of this team, you will help build, test, and iterate on the full product lifecycle of our Aeon-R engine systems, seeing them mature and eventually bring Terran R into space.

About the Role: 

This role may span several areas of our team depending on your skillset and the team’s needs at the time. The core responsibilities are driving engine system (architecture + CONOPS) trades, managing engine interfaces & negotiating requirements to optimize for the vehicle, and supporting engine system development overall. You may additionally support engine system analysis and simulation, engine testing, tool development, and more. In engineering at the system level, you will be expected not just to coordinate & facilitate amongst other technical teams, but to bring your own deep technical acumen to bear on problems in this highly technical role.

In order to be successful in this role, you should be capable of leading collaborative projects to completion with minimal oversight. You should also be a self-starter who is always looking for ways to improve yourself & learn more about the systems that interface with yours. 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 and risk.

This role requires an average of 15% travel to our test & launch sites and may occasionally require shifted schedules or weekend work for critical milestones.

About you: 

  • Experience applying engineering fundamentals in fluid mechanics & thermodynamics
  • Clear evidence of ownership, problem-solving skills, and effective team collaboration from school or work experience
  • Demonstrated drive to deliver on ambitious schedules, even and especially if unconventional & creative solutions are necessary to do so
  • Bachelor’s degree in a science, engineering, technology, or mathematics field
  • Working knowledge of liquid-propellant rocket engines
  • 8+ years of relevant experience, preferably in complex engineering system development and/or test environment 

Nice to haves, but not required:

  • Working knowledge of fluid components such as valves and instrumentation
  • Working knowledge of engine subsystems such as combustion devices and turbomachinery

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.

Top Skills

Fluid Mechanics
Thermodynamics

What the Team is Saying

Ashley
Tim
Vlad
The Company
HQ: Long Beach, CA
1,200 Employees
Hybrid Workplace
Year Founded: 2016

What We Do

A rocket company at the core, Relativity Space is on a mission to become the next great commercial launch company. Terran R, our medium-to-heavy lift reusable launch vehicle, will reliably deliver payloads to orbit on-time and on-budget for customers – meeting the needs of growing demand for space infrastructure. Leveraging the benefits of additive manufacturing to design, test, and iterate at a pace unmatched in the industry, we are changing the way rockets are built and flown.

Our long-term goal is to create humanity’s industrial base on Mars, paving the way for interplanetary life to fundamentally expand the possibilities of the human experience. The first step toward this vision starts here on Earth, by building the next great commercial launch company.

Why Work With Us

For 60 years, aerospace manufacturing has relied on fixed tooling and complex supply chains to slowly build rockets comprised of hundreds of thousands of parts. Leveraging advances in additive manufacturing, Relativity Space is strategically focused on reducing vehicle complexity, cost, and time to market.

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Relativity Space Teams

Team
Launching the Future of Humanity in Space
About our Teams

Relativity Space Offices

Hybrid Workspace

Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.

Given the dynamic nature and diversity of roles at Relativity Space, there is no one-size-fits-all approach for how every team works best.

Typical time on-site: Flexible
HQLong Beach, CA
Cape Canaveral, FL
Center, MS
Kent, WA
Washington, DC
Learn more

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