Lead Structures Test Engineer

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 Team:

The Factory Test team is responsible for all hazardous testing in our Long Beach facilities. We use our breadth of experience and collaborative engineering approach to support everything from very large structural tests to precise valve actuation. To that end, we design, build, and operate all test assets from initial concept to test execution. If you enjoy working on a multi-disciplinary team with a broad mandate and want to put hands on hardware, then this is the team for you. As a Lead Structures Engineer on the Factory Test team, you will be responsible for the design, fabrication, and activation of test stands and fixtures for our Terran R launch vehicle. Based in Long Beach, our engineers are responsible for the full design cycle on projects ranging from fast and temporary to permanent, long-term infrastructure. You will identify the key stakeholders across many partner teams, surface the key questions, and drive the resolution of complex test constraints. You will be a key mentor and advisor for the test department.

About the Role:

• Design and analysis of static and/or dynamic test stands


• Creation of fabrication drawings, procurement, and project management


• Assembly, commissioning, and operation of test stands


• Review and approval of test stand designs


• You should be an expert in your field, able to help us solve new and wide-ranging challenges.


• An accomplished designer and analyst of critical structural systems

About You:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or a related field


• 4+ years of experience designing, analyzing, and building metallic structures


• Experience with the complete design cycle from requirements generation to functional product • Proficiency in 3D modeling and drafting, including expert knowledge of GD&T


• Thorough understanding of engineering fundamentals and their application, including the ability to help others achieve similar mastery


• Expert level knowledge of structural analysis using NASTRAN or similar tools


• Track record of delivering complex and innovative projects on time and on budget

Nice to haves but not required:

• Previous design experience with weld size analysis


• Hands-on experience with metalworking, welding, hydraulics, manufacturing, etc.


• Experience operating construction equipment (forklift, telehandler, excavator, boom crane, etc)


• Ability to automate workflows using Python, VBA, etc


• Willing to work at heights, in confined spaces, in a dirty environment, and away from your desk

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:

$138,000 - $176,000 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 [email protected] .