NoneOnsite · Aerospace

Lead, Launch Mechanical Engineering

Relativity Space · Long Beach, California

Mission Brief

Core Responsibilities

<div class="content-intro"><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">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.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">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 </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">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.</span></p></div><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><strong><span data-contrast="none">About the Team: </span></strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The Launch Mechanical team is responsible for building world class launch facilities to support flights of the Terran R launch vehicle. As part of the team, you will take on the challenge of designing, building, testing, and integrating complex mechanical systems that interface directly with the launch vehicle. You will have the opportunity to be part of a small team of engineers who are responsible for the full engineering cycle on projects that involve static structures, dynamic mechanisms, and control systems using fluid, electrical, and combustion powered sources.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><strong><span data-contrast="none">About the Role:</span></strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Manage a small, highly talented team of launch mechanical engineers to design mechanisms and tools that interface with the flight vehicle and other ground systems</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Mentor engineers on fundamental and practical engineering practices</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Balance leadership work with individual technical projects</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Directly and indirectly impact the outcome of launch system designs</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Grow the team by recruiting, interviewing, developing training materials, direct mentorship, and performance reviews</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Communicate with leadership about progress, risks, and other team details</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><strong><span data-contrast="none">About You:</span></strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related field</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Varied perspectives & backgrounds strengthen our team</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Minimum of 3 years of engineering experience in a test or launch environment</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Strong engineering fundamentals in structures, mechanical design, and fluid systems</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Demonstrated drive to deliver on tight schedules, especially when unconventional & creative solutions are necessary</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Strong leadership skills, including mentorship, communication, conflict resolution, and managing expectations</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><strong><span data-contrast="none">Nice to haves but not required: </span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Experience designing, manufacturing, testing, and implementing launch vehicle interface mechanism systems and tooling</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Familiarity with NASA, DoD, Space Force, and other governing body standards</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Working knowledge of common structural materials and manufacturing processes</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Experience designing complex fluid systems, including high pressure gas, cryogenic fluids, flammables, and hydraulics</span></li> </ul><div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="description"><p><span style="font-size: 14px;">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.</span><br><br><span style="font-size: 14px;">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 <a href="https://px.sequoia.com/relativityspace">here.</a></span></p></div><div class="title">Hiring Range:</div><div class="pay-range"><span>$128,000</span><span class="divider">—</span><span>$192,000 USD</span></div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion"><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>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.</strong></span></p> <p><em><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>If you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact us at <a href="mailto:accommodations@relativityspace.com">accommodations@relativityspace.com</a>.</strong></span></em></p> <p><em><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt;">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.</span></strong></em></p></div>

Keep Searching

Related Roles

Same clearance, employer, or industry segment. Compare fit before you apply.

70% MatchNoneHybrid · Defense Infrastructure

Air Vehicle Lead, Thunder

Anduril Industries · Verified · Costa Mesa, California, United States

Similar skills: clearance, lead · Same clearance: None

Air Vehicle Lead, Thunder — Hybrid in Costa Mesa, California, United States. Clearance: None.

View Role
68% MatchNoneOnsite · Defense Infrastructure

Asset Improvement Lead

Anduril Industries · Verified · Costa Mesa, California, United States

Similar skills: clearance, lead · Same clearance: None

Asset Improvement Lead — Onsite in Costa Mesa, California, United States. Clearance: None.

View Role
68% MatchNoneRemote · Defense Infrastructure

Engineering Manager, Security Platform

Vannevar Labs · Remote

Similar skills: clearance, engineering · Same clearance: None

Engineering Manager, Security Platform — Remote in Remote. Clearance: None.

View Role
68% MatchNoneOnsite · Defense Infrastructure

Arsenal-1 Operations Lead

Anduril Industries · Verified · Costa Mesa, California, United States

Similar skills: clearance, lead · Same clearance: None

Arsenal-1 Operations Lead — Onsite in Costa Mesa, California, United States. Clearance: None.

View Role
66% MatchNoneRemote · Defense Infrastructure

Controller

Vannevar Labs · Remote

Similar skills: clearance · Same clearance: None

Controller — Remote in Remote. Clearance: None.

View Role
66% MatchNoneRemote · Defense Infrastructure

Engineering Manager, AI Platform

Vannevar Labs · Remote

Similar skills: clearance, engineering · Same clearance: None

Engineering Manager, AI Platform — Remote in Remote. Clearance: None.

View Role