Lead Propulsion Test Technician, Operations

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 Stennis Test team designs, builds, and operates Relativity’s propulsion and stage test stands. Team members are hands-on with large-scale, complex systems including fully integrated engines and stage assemblies, pushing hardware to the limits and directly contributing to flight readiness. The work is fast-paced and highly operational, ideal for those with backgrounds in aviation, automotive, manufacturing, offshore operations, industrial systems, construction, or adjacent industries. You’ll work in a close-knit, dynamic environment where collaboration between technicians, operators, and engineers is not only encouraged, but expected. As the company scales, the Stennis Test team becomes even more critical to unlocking our next phase of growth: proving out full-stage systems and paving the way for routine, reliable flights of Terran R.

About the Role: 

As a Lead Propulsion Test Technician for the Operations Test Team, you will lead a team of technicians through test hardware assembly and maintenance, testing operations, and maintaining existing test stands. You will allocate tasks and provide technical guidance to your team. Additionally, you will monitor compliance with safety regulations, conduct inspections, and address any issues that arise to maintain high safety and performance standards throughout the project.

• Proactively perform work according to procedures, specifications, and work instructions while ensuring that work completed by the team meets expectations.
• Identify and set daily/weekly team priorities to accomplish company goals ensuring the work performed meets company safety and quality standards.
• Work with engineering and leadership to develop and implement process improvements for reoccurring work and ensure that all test stand related equipment maintenance and services are performed safe and in a timely manner.
• Conduct performance assessments and coaching for the team and its members to ensure adherence to company policies and performance management expectations are met.
• Track and order common tooling needed for daily operations and perform ROI to justify purchases.
• This position will require occasional night shifts, weekends, and possible travel.

About You:  

• 5+ years of experience in aerospace, aviation, medium or heavy industrial maintenance, instrumentation, data and control systems, and/or mechanical systems.
• Must be able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs. unassisted, stand for extended periods, and use industry standard PPE
• Ability to operate a wide range of hand and power tools for fabrication operations.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Commitment to safety and quality standards in high-hazard environments

Nice to haves but not required:  

• Past leadership experience
• Demonstrated knowledge of fluid systems and their components
• Demonstrated knowledge of data acquisitions systems and instrumentation
• Demonstrated knowledge of flight hardware systems and their components

Successful candidates must clear a background check administered by the US government to obtain clearance for on-site work at our government partner location in Stennis, Mississippi.

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:

$43.85—$65.77 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 accommodations@relativityspace.com.

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.