--- title: 'Senior Propulsion Test Responsible Engineer at Relativity Space' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-propulsion-test-responsible-engineer-relativity-space-long-beach-hatsz1tm8vq1' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-08' --- # Senior Propulsion Test Responsible Engineer at Relativity Space - **Company:** Relativity Space - **Location:** Long Beach, CA - **Compensation:** $132k–$198k - **Posted:** 2026-04-09 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08 - **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/relativity/jobs/8500953002?gh_jid=8500953002 ## 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 Role: This role is on the Engine Systems & Test Team. Our work spans simulation & software tools; system-level architecture, requirements, and interfaces; component & integrated system hotfire testing; and more. We collaborate closely with component engineers, our manufacturing team, our Stennis test team, and our Cape launch team to deliver engines that will successfully propel the Terran rocket to orbit. We strive for continuous improvement and support the development of our technical hardware and human teammates alike. We are hiring for the integrated engine test team (which tests the full engine assembly). Your work may span several different areas depending on your skillset and the team’s needs at the time. - In the test part of your role, you will serve as a Responsible Engineer for propulsion test articles. - You will develop test plans in collaboration with product owners, and you will execute test campaigns with our Stennis team, troubleshooting technical puzzles along the way. - You will own the exploratory operation of new and existing test article designs, diving deep into the evaluation of test hardware behavior in support of continuous engine development and certification. - This role is extremely varied day-to-day and, in addition to overall campaign ownership, can include writing test sequences, reviewing data, hands-on work with test articles, writing code, sitting console for hotfire tests, designing tooling, and more. - Most test roles also involve systems work – on this side of your role, you may support engine subsystem troubleshooting, partner team product investigations, engine system analysis and simulation, trade studies, and more. - You will also take ownership of projects of your creation to increase our collective efficiency. - As our vehicle development program progresses, you may have the opportunity to be involved in stage test and flight campaigns – including sitting console for launch operations, defining stage test objectives, and defining flight concepts of operations (CONOPS). In order to be successful in this role, you should be a self-starter who is capable of leading collaborative projects to completion. You should be always looking for ways to improve yourself & learn more about the systems that interface with yours – who will leverage the training & mentorship we provide to grow as an engineer and an individual. 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. Work schedule & travel: - This role is full-time onsite in Long Beach, CA with an average of 25% travel to our test & launch sites. - This role may occasionally require weekend work for critical milestones. - This role requires working shifted schedules (1st and 2nd shift) on a rotating basis About You: - We believe varied perspectives & backgrounds strengthen our team. Prior experience in aerospace is not required. - 5+ years of experience in a complex engineering system development and/or test environment Bachelor’s degree in a science, engineering, technology, or mathematics field - Experience with: - Applying engineering fundamentals in fluid mechanics & thermodynamics - Problem-solving - Working in a collaborative environment - Demonstrated ability to execute high-ownership projects on ambitious schedules, especially if unconventional solutions are necessary to do so Nice to haves but not required: - Exposure to test operations environments - Working knowledge of at least one of the following: combustion devices, valves, heat exchangers, or instrumentation 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.](https://px.sequoia.com/relativityspace) Hiring Range: $132,000—$198,000 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 accommodations@relativityspace.com. Please note: Relativity Space does not accept unsolicited resumes, candidate profiles, or referrals from recruitment agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited submission - via email, our website, social media, or directly to an employee - will be deemed the property of Relativity Space, and no fee will be owed absent a current, fully executed agreement with Talent Acquisition that specifically authorizes submissions for the applicable role. ## About Relativity Space ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Relativity Space builds reusable, 3D‑printed rockets to make space access more reliable, routine, and accessible. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series‑funded; latest leadership change in 2025). - **Headquarters**: Long Beach, California, USA - **Founded**: 2015 (publicly active since 2016) - **Founders**: Tim Ellis and Jordan Noone ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Aerospace – launch vehicles, additive manufacturing, interplanetary exploration. - **Target customers**: B2B – blue‑chip companies, telecommunications operators, government agencies, and science/exploration organisations. - **Mission**: “To better connect humanity to space and to the universe beyond our planet … make space more accessible, reliable, and sustainable.” ## Products & Services - **[Terran R](https://www.relativityspace.com/)**: Reusable medium‑to‑heavy‑lift launch vehicle. Configurations deliver up to 33,500 kg to LEO (expendable) and 23,500 kg to LEO (downrange landing). Designed for efficiency, scalability, and rapid market entry. - **[Aeon R & Aeon V Engines](https://www.relativityspace.com/locations)**: In‑house, 3D‑printed methane‑fuelled engines produced at the Long Beach HQ using powder‑bed fusion and CNC machining. - **Additive Manufacturing Platform**: Proprietary 3D‑printing technology (Stargate printers) that enables rapid prototyping, reduced part count, and faster iteration cycles. ## Market Standing - **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed. - **Key Metric**: **$3B+** in pre‑sold launch contracts across more than a dozen customers, including blue‑chip companies and government entities [relativityspace.com](https://www.relativityspace.com/about). - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Eric Schmidt (former Google CEO) became chairman/leader in 2025, bringing technology and national‑security expertise. A diverse customer base includes telecommunications, government, and commercial satellite operators. - **Growth Signals**: - Headcount grown to **~2,000 employees** across 5 US locations (California, Mississippi, Florida, Washington D.C., Seattle) [relativityspace.com](https://www.relativityspace.com/about). - Headquarters in Long Beach is a **1‑million‑square‑foot** facility designed for high‑rate production [relativityspace.com](https://www.relativityspace.com/locations). - Expansion into interplanetary research labs and next‑generation manufacturing. ## Competitive Advantages - **Proven 3D‑printed rockets**: Relativity is the first company to fly a nearly entirely 3D‑printed rocket (Terran 1) and now applies that learning to the larger, reusable Terran R. - **“First‑principles thinking” + aerospace experience**: Rapid iteration, low‑cost prototyping, and additive manufacturing reduce design‑to‑flight timelines. - **New leadership under Eric Schmidt**: Brings deep technology and national‑security networks, accelerating scaling and government contracts. - **$3B+ backlog**: Strong revenue visibility and customer trust before full commercial operations. ## Strategic Focus - **Scale production** of Terran R at the Long Beach HQ to meet demand from commercial and government customers. - **Expand beyond launch** into interplanetary exploration, advanced manufacturing tools, and science‑enabling technologies. - **Increase launch cadence and reusability** to drive down per‑mission cost and open new market segments. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: Values of **Audacity, Wonder, Humanity, and Relentlessness** – emphasising bold thinking, curiosity, and meaningful results [relativityspace.com/careers](https://www.relativityspace.com/careers). - **Work model**: In‑person collaboration – “best work happens side by side… solving problems together” – with teams co‑located at five US sites. - **Engineering focus**: Deep expertise in aerospace, propulsion, software, and manufacturing; hands‑on work with cutting‑edge hardware and iterative testing. - **Perks & growth**: Comprehensive benefits (details on careers page); opportunity to work on rockets, engines, and additive manufacturing at scale; direct impact on a fast‑moving company aiming to make space accessible. ## Sources 1. [Relativity Space About Page](https://www.relativityspace.com/about) 2. [Relativity Space Home Page](https://www.relativityspace.com/) 3. [Careers Page](https://www.relativityspace.com/careers) 4. [Locations Page](https://www.relativityspace.com/locations) ## Other roles at Relativity Space - [Staff Engineer - Launch Fluids Engineering](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-engineer-launch-fluids-engineering-relativity-space-long-beach-california-j8t1yday4qza) — Long Beach California, United States - [PBF Technical Specialist I](https://feeny.ai/job/pbf-technical-specialist-i-relativity-space-long-beach-california-d67aw1p74jjw) — Long Beach California, United States - [Senior EHS Program Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-ehs-program-manager-relativity-space-long-beach-california-zq0n57enkxd7) — Long Beach California, United States - [Staff Mechanisms Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-mechanisms-engineer-relativity-space-long-beach-california-xr32913swd8m) — Long Beach California, United States - [Senior Vehicle Structures Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-vehicle-structures-engineer-relativity-space-long-beach-california-npgsjj09frfs) — Long Beach California, United States - [Senior Mechanisms Systems Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanisms-systems-engineer-relativity-space-long-beach-california-3yyrqct8s5mp) — Long Beach California, United States - [Senior Mechanisms Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanisms-engineer-relativity-space-long-beach-california-xcmcvn97d4a5) — Long Beach California, United States - [Senior Mechanical Engineer (Mechanisms)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-engineer-mechanisms-relativity-space-long-beach-california-w9zcvkpdh8a5) — Long Beach California, United States - [Senior Electro-Mechanical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-electro-mechanical-engineer-relativity-space-long-beach-california-rsxchha000ma) — Long Beach California, United States - [Senior Avionics PCBA Development Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-avionics-pcba-development-engineer-relativity-space-long-beach-california-70brpnt8mh8a) — Long Beach California, United States