Senior Manager, Engine Systems & Test

About the Team:

The Propulsion team at Relativity is focused on developing and delivering highly performant and manufacturable engines for Terran R. Engineers are responsible for the entire lifecycle of their parts, from initial design through production to qualification and flight. The team fosters a culture of bottoms‑up decision‑making, free from technical gatekeeping, where ownership and accountability are key at all levels. But designing engines with a quarter million pounds of thrust is just the beginning.

As the flight configuration enters qualification, the team is now exploring modifications for future engines, including thrust upgrades, new cycles, and design for mass production.

In this role, you will lead a team of ~20 engineers who own development of the Aeon engine series at the system level. The team’s work spans component & integrated system hotfiretesting, thermofluids simulation, system‑level architecture, requirements, and interfaces; and more. We collaborate closely with propulsion design 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.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of propulsion development engineers, fostering a culture of growth & continuous improvement
• Solve a variety of technical problems across broad ranges of timeframe, scope, and complexity
• Collaborate with propulsion & vehicle design, manufacturing, software, and operation teams to ensure seamless integration between your team’s activities and overall vehicle development
• Oversee the planning, execution, and analysis of engine & component hotfire campaigns, as well as engine support of stage test & launch campaigns
• Oversee the system‑level development of current and future engines (architecture, CONOPs, simulation, interfaces), including large upgrades such as engine cycle changes
• Set team priorities & allocate resources between different products or functions
• Drive improvements in processes, tools, and automation
• Identify and mitigate risks related to engine development, ensuring timely issue resolution and program success
• Scale the team’s bandwidth & abilities through recruiting & training to meet future engine & vehicle development needs

• This role is full‑time onsite in Long Beach, CA, and requires an average of 15% travel to our test & launch sites
• This role may occasionally require weekend work for critical milestones

• Bachelor’s degree in a science, engineering, or technology field
• 8+ years of relevant experience in a complex engineering system development and/or test environment
  
  • Including 2+ years of direct experience with liquid‑propellant rocket engines
  
  • Including 2+ years of direct experience leading teams of multidisciplinary engineers
• Experience mentoring, managing complex interdisciplinary projects, supporting continuous improvement of the team around you and participating in growing your team
• Demonstrated engineering fundamentals in fluid mechanics and thermodynamics
• Demonstrated drive to deliver on tight schedules, especially when unconventional & creative solutions are necessary

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: $216,000 — $234,600 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 accom