Spacecraft Responsible Engineer

Relativity Space•Long Beach, CA

7h•$164,000 - $246,000

About The Position

The Interplanetary Sciences Program at Relativity Space is developing a privately funded science mission to Mars targeted for 2028. The mission will map shallow subsurface ice and geology, characterize Martian weather, enable next-generation onboard processing and communication, and demonstrate a philanthropic public-private partnership model for space science. The Staff Spacecraft Responsible Engineer will own the end-to-end definition, integration, and delivery of the spacecraft bus and its interaction with mission payloads. The role is the technical and programmatic focal point for defining, tracking, and meeting spacecraft-level requirements, interfaces, and performance budgets, including power, mass, thermal, and communications, throughout the mission lifecycle. The engineer will collaborate with internal teams and external spacecraft bus providers to support mission success from design and procurement through integration, test, launch, and operations. The position combines systems engineering, vendor management, and hands-on mission execution, with a high degree of ownership and impact.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
7+ years of experience in spacecraft or satellite systems engineering, integration, or mission design.
Proven ability to manage complex systems involving multiple vendors and customers.
Strong understanding of spacecraft subsystems, including power, thermal, communications, ADCS, and propulsion, and their interdependencies.
Experience leading cross-functional teams through integration and test, launch campaigns, or mission operations.
Excellent communication, negotiation, and leadership skills, with the ability to interface across technical and programmatic boundaries.

Nice To Haves

Experience with end-to-end mission development, including payload-to-spacecraft integration.
Familiarity with NASA or commercial spacecraft systems engineering processes in an applied or New-Space manner.
Experience supporting launch and early operations of spacecraft missions.
Prior work with deep-space or interplanetary spacecraft systems.

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end definition, integration, and delivery of the spacecraft bus and its interaction with mission payloads.
Ensure spacecraft-level requirements, interfaces, and performance budgets—including power, mass, thermal, and communications—are defined, tracked, and met throughout the mission lifecycle.
Serve as the technical and programmatic focal point for the spacecraft.
Collaborate with internal teams and external spacecraft bus providers.
Support the mission from design and procurement through integration, test, launch, and operations.