SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Relativity Space is building the Terran R launch vehicle using advanced 3D printing and manufacturing techniques to serve the growing demand for orbital launch capacity. The Stage Fluids team owns the design, production, testing, and flight qualification of all propellant, pressurant, pneumatics, and fluid systems that power the rocket.
As a Senior Mechanical Engineer on this team, you will lead the hardware design and implementation of fluid systems for Terran R, ensuring reliable and efficient operation. Your responsibilities include:
• Design and analysis of pressure components for launch vehicle fluid and propulsion systems from concept through production
• Detailed fluid, thermal, and structural analysis of components and assemblies using CFD and FEA tools
• Development and execution of qualification test plans for internally developed components
• Conducting trade studies to optimize architectures and designs against system requirements
• Collaborating across propulsion, manufacturing, software, and avionics teams to integrate fluid systems into the vehicle
You will work on-site at the factory in Long Beach, maintaining close proximity to hardware and enabling rapid iteration between design and manufacturing. The role emphasizes ownership and autonomy—you won't simply execute handed-down requirements but will actively shape solutions, ask critical questions, and drive decisions that impact the vehicle.
Required qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field; 5+ years of hands-on experience designing fluid system components; strong fundamentals in thermodynamics, structures, fluid dynamics, and heat transfer; proficiency with CFD and FEA tools (ANSYS preferred). Experience with pressure vessel design, test planning, and aerospace/propulsion systems is highly valued.
This is an opportunity to contribute to a venture-backed aerospace company at a pivotal moment—early enough to shape product and culture, but far enough along that Terran R is tangible and accelerating toward flight.
