Engine Systems & Test Team- Staff Combustion Device Test Engineer

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. 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 a company 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 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. Designing engines with a quarter million pounds of thrust is just the beginning. As the flight configuration enters qualification, the team is exploring modifications for future engines, including thrust upgrades, new cycles, and design for mass production. About the Role: This role is on the Component Test Team, within 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, manufacturing, test, and launch teams 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. This role may span several areas of our team 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 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, evaluating test hardware behavior to support engine development and certification. This role is highly varied, including writing test sequences, reviewing data, hands-on work with test articles, coding, sitting console for hotfire tests, designing tooling, and more.

Most test roles also involve systems work—supporting engine subsystem troubleshooting, partner team investigations, analysis, simulation, and trade studies. As our vehicle development progresses, you may be involved in stage test and flight campaigns. You will also take ownership of projects to improve efficiency. As a staff engineer, you should have enthusiasm for mentorship and be expected to influence your team significantly. To succeed, you should be capable of leading collaborative projects with minimal oversight, be a self-starter eager to learn, and have a passion for systems integration. This role offers the chance to influence a fast-growing startup and achieve rapid professional growth in an environment that encourages innovation and risk-taking. Work schedule & travel: This role is full-time onsite in Long Beach, CA, with approximately 25% travel to test and launch sites.

Alternatively, candidates may prefer to be based full-time at Stennis, Mississippi, with travel to Long Beach and launch sites.

Weekend work may be required for critical milestones. About you: Bachelor's degree in science, engineering, technology, or mathematics 8+ years of relevant experience in complex engineering development or testing Experience with fluid mechanics & thermodynamics, problem-solving, and collaborative work Exposure to test operations environments Experience designing, analyzing, testing, or developing combustion devices, valves, heat exchangers, or instrumentation Nice to haves: Prior aerospace experience is not required; diverse perspectives are valued. Relativity Space is committed to transparent and fair compensation practices. Actual salary will depend on experience and qualifications, with a range of $176,000—$225,500 USD. Our benefits include competitive salary and equity, generous PTO, parental leave, learning stipends, and more. For details, visit our benefits page. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, age, marital status, veteran status, or other protected categories.

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