Propulsion Engineer Intern
Rsinternboard
Apply to this jobAt 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 Propulsion team at Relativity is focused on developing and delivering highly performant and manufacturable engines for Terran R. Engineers are responsible for the entire lifecycle of their parts, from initial design through production to qualification and flight. The team fosters a culture of bottoms-up decision-making, free from technical gatekeeping, where ownership and accountability are key at all levels. But designing engines with a quarter million pounds of thrust is just the beginning. As the flight configuration enters qualification, the team is now exploring modifications for future engines, including thrust upgrades, new cycles, and design for mass production.
About the Role
Relativity seeks a Propulsion Engineer Intern to join the Summer 2024 Internship Program. The Propulsion team at Relativity Space is responsible for the design, development, testing, and manufacturing of Relativity’s rocket engines. As a part of this team, you will help build, create, and iterate on the full product lifecycle of our Aeon-R engines! As an integral member of the propulsion team, you will have the opportunity to
- Design, analyze, and optimize propulsion flight hardware.
- Model complex propulsion systems using computational fluid dynamics and thermal analysis.
- Create and execute engine and component hotfire test campaigns.
- Work hands-on, manufacturing and integrating propulsion hardware.
About You
- Current undergraduate or graduate student earning your degree in a science, engineering, technology, or mathematics field
- Strong engineering fundamentals in either fluid mechanics & thermodynamics, or structural design & analysis (not required to be proficient in all areas)
- Clear evidence of ownership, problem-solving skills, and effective team collaboration from school or work experience
- Excitement & ability to learn quickly
Nice to Haves but Not Required
- Experience applying engineering fundamentals in thermodynamics, thermal, structural, and/or fluids to solve real-world problems.
- Hands-on experience manufacturing, integrating, or testing hardware.
- Working knowledge of liquid-propellant rocket engines
- Experience with design and analysis software
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.
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.
Summary
Assist in designing, analyzing, testing, and manufacturing rocket propulsion hardware.
Job title
Propulsion Engineer Intern
Experience level
student
Industry
aerospace
Location requirements
Long Beach, California; remote work not specified
Salary
$32—$40 USD
Management role
No
Required skills
Preferred skills
Specializations
Structured locations inferred from the posting.
Long Beach, CA, USA