Marine Systems Design Engineer II - Transport and Recovery

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 Recovery team is an integral part of the Cape Canaveral launch site, primarily responsible for the design, construction, and operation of the vessels used to recover the Terran R launch vehicle. This scope includes everything from vessel design and maintenance to the safing and securing of the rocket post-flight. We collaborate closely with teams across the company, including launch pad fluids engineers, rocket engine designers, and vehicle operators.

About the Role:

• Assist in bringing the Terran R Recovery barge from concept layouts to detailed plans, followed by supporting construction and activation efforts

• Responsible for the detailed layout, configuration and implementation of Terran R Recovery Barge systems, including everything from consoles and lighting to thrusters, power distribution, fire suppression and fuel storage

• Support build, activation, and certification of the Recovery vessel subsystems

• Safely support system checkouts for vessel power and dynamics systems

• Support operation and troubleshooting of vessel systems leading up to and during the Terran R flight campaigns

• Work with engineers and technicians to develop guides, plans and training to ensure safe operation of the Recovery vessel

About You:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Marine Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering field from an accredited institution

• At least one (1) year of experience in vessel layout, vessel design, vessel construction, or related marine engineering work

• Demonstrated knowledge of engineering fundamentals and first principles

• Proficiency in computer-aided design (CAD) software

• Experience performing engineering analysis using finite element analysis (FEA), hand calculations, or equivalent analytical methods

• Ability to travel for extended periods as required by business needs, including work in shipyards, offshore locations, and industrial environments

• Ability to communicate effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders

Nice to haves but not required:

• Experience safely operating or supporting hazardous systems, including high-pressure, high-voltage, and/or cryogenic systems, in accordance with applicable safety standards

• Experience working with or applying regulatory requirements and standards issued by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), NASA, or comparable regulatory bodies

• Experience implementing or supporting dynamic positioning (DP) control systems in high-precision operational environments

• Working knowledge of commercial marine vessel regulations, including vessel design, construction, and operational requirements

• Experience working in shipyard or offshore production environments

• Experience supporting vessel build or retrofit programs

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 Cape Canaveral, Florida.

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:
$117,000—$143,000 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 [email protected].