Relativity Space

Manager, Vehicle Fluids Product

Relativity Space$160K — $240K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field and +7 years of relevant aerospace vehicle program experience
  • Proven experience leading high-performing engineering teams on complex projects
  • Demonstrated mentoring and technical leadership skills
  • Strong background in fluid system architecture and thermodynamics
  • Proficient with fluid or thermal modeling tools for analysis
  • Experience in programming languages like Matlab, Python, or C++ for data analysis
  • Direct experience designing or operating launch vehicle or spacecraft fluid systems

Responsibilities

  • Manage the fluids product team while aligning with program milestones
  • Define and scope stage-level fluid architecture and testing readiness
  • Lead interface definitions with partner teams for system integration
  • Set clear team goals and ensure accountability
  • Assist with thermofluids analysis and testing scope definition
  • Participate in concept development and operational data review
  • Mentor engineers to ensure fluid requirements are met

Benefits

  • Competitive salary and equity
  • Generous PTO and sick leave policy
  • Parental leave
  • Annual learning and development stipend
  • Commitment to transparency in compensation practices
Full Job Description
About the Team:

The Stage Fluids team designs and delivers the propellant, pressurant, pneumatics, and other fluid systems that turn structures into functioning rockets. The team has full ownership across design, production, test, and flight, maintaining a holistic view of Terran R, focused not on isolated parts but integrated functionality. Working on-site at the factory means you're never far from the hardware, enabling rapid iteration and tight feedback loops across design and manufacturing. You won't just be handed requirements: you'll be expected to ask the right questions, collaborate with partners across the company, and ultimately find the best solutions for Terran R.

About the Role:

As the Vehicle Fluids Product Manager, you will be leading the team responsible for the fluid system architecture and function across the vehicle. You and your team will apply deep expertise in system architecture, complex systems operations, and fluid thermodynamics applications to guide hardware design, system analysis, manufacturing, validation and operations.

You will:
  • Manage a high-performing fluids product team while aligning and executing against program milestones
  • Define, scope and schedule the stage-level fluid architecture, requirements and documentation at appropriate maturity to conduct integrated testing and readiness for flight
  • Lead cross-functional interface definitions and negotiations with partner vehicle teams (Propulsion/Engine, Structures, GNC, and Avionics) to ensure flawless system integration
  • Set clear team goals and drive accountability
  • Assist with sizing and fluid 1D steady-state thermofluids analysis at both the system and component levels when necessary to
  • Define development, qualification, and acceptance testing scopes to buy down technical risk prior to vehicle-level integrated testing
  • Participate in concept of Operations (CONOPS) development and operation data review to take ultimate ownership of the successful operational philosophy and testing execution of the fluid systems at the integrated vehicle level
  • Mentor engineers and guide hardware owners to ensure systems meet fluid requirements

To succeed in this role, you will bring a solid foundation in fundamental physics and the ability to apply first principles thinking to complex problems. You are self-motivated, adaptable, and thrive in a fast-paced, highly integrated and collaborative vehicle development environment.

This role offers the opportunity to directly influence major engine and vehicle stage hardware while accelerating your professional growth in a culture that values collaboration, ownership, technical rigor, and calculated risk-taking.

About You:
  • Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field and +7 years of relevant experience across at least 1 aerospace vehicle program lifecycle
  • Proven experience leading high-performing engineering teams delivering successful hardware on complex, cross-functional projects
  • Demonstrated mentoring and technical leadership skills
  • Strong background in fluid system architecture, operations and application of engineering fundamentals in system design, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and heat transfer
  • Proficient with one or more fluid or thermal modeling tools for internal compressible and incompressible fluid analysis
  • Experience using programming languages such as Matlab, Python, or C++ for data analysis or modeling
  • Direct experience designing or operating launch vehicle or spacecraft fluid or propulsion systems

Nice to haves, but not required:
  • Experience with certification of a vehicle fluid system for NSSL and/or range certification


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:

$160,000-$240,000 USD

About Relativity Space

Relativity Space is an American aerospace manufacturer that is developing 3D printed rockets. The company was founded in 2015 by Tim Ellis and Jordan Noone, and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Relativity Space's goal is to reduce the cost and time required to produce rockets by using 3D printing technology. The company's rockets are designed to be fully reusable, which could significantly reduce the cost of space launches. Relativity Space has received funding from a number of investors, including Mark Cuban and Playground Global.
Learn more about Relativity Space
Size
200 employees
Industry
Founded
2016

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