Manager, Systems Engineering

About the role

This Manager, Systems Engineering position is centered on the Terran R vehicle, where you will lead a systems engineering team responsible for managing technical risk and ensuring seamless subsystem integration during stage testing. You will own the refinement of engineering processes to balance speed with technical rigor, enabling the program to scale effectively while maintaining structural and operational integrity. The role requires deep ownership of systems engineering tools and workflows, aligning them with evolving program needs and supporting the launch ramp rate. You will act as a technical leader, safeguarding the consistency and reliability of systems engineering practices across the organization. Collaboration with company leadership is central to this role, as you will ensure that systems engineering standards are upheld and that the program's technical foundation remains robust throughout its development and testing phases.

What you'll do

• Collaborate with company leadership to maintain systems engineering tools and workflows that support the Terran R vehicle.
• Create new processes and remove outdated ones to optimize efficiency and support the launch ramp rate.
• Manage engineers tasked with risk reduction at the component and subsystem levels, guiding their efforts to address technical challenges.
• Oversee verification activities to confirm that risks are addressed before any stage testing begins, ensuring readiness and compliance.
• Align stakeholders on test objectives and requirements to maintain clarity and cohesion across teams.
• Provide technical mentorship and review to support risk mitigation across departments, fostering a culture of technical excellence.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to translate program requirements into detailed technical plans and execution strategies.
• Drive the collection and analysis of test data to inform design decisions, trade studies, and iterative improvements.
• Facilitate technical reviews and design sessions to ensure alignment with program objectives, system performance goals, and integration needs.
• Support the development and maintenance of system requirements and architectural documents, ensuring accuracy and traceability.
• Monitor project status and escalate issues as needed to ensure timely resolution and strict schedule adherence.
• Contribute to the development of test plans and procedures that validate system performance under defined conditions.
• Identify gaps in system integration and coordinate resolution strategies with engineering leads to prevent delays or failures.
• Promote continuous improvement in systems engineering practices across the organization, enhancing methodologies and tools for future programs.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field, providing a foundational understanding of engineering principles and practices.
• 5+ years of experience in system engineering, architecture, design, development, or test and evaluation, demonstrating a strong technical background.
• Full product lifecycle experience on at least one program, with preference for candidates with experience on two or more programs.
• Ability to adapt to shifting requirements in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while maintaining focus on deliverables and objectives.
• U.S. citizenship or permanent residency is required for this role due to the nature of the work and compliance needs.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance, ensuring eligibility for access to classified or controlled information.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential for effective stakeholder engagement, documentation, and cross-team collaboration.
• Demonstrated experience managing technical risk in complex engineering programs, with a proven track record of identifying and mitigating potential issues.
• Experience with systems engineering tools, system architecture, system integration, test and evaluation (T&E), and requirements management is expected.

Nice to have

• Prior experience in people leadership, including team management, mentorship, and performance development.

Practical notes

Compensation includes salary and equity, with a range of $160,000 to $240,000 USD based on role and location. Benefits include PTO, sick leave, parental leave, and an annual learning and development stipend to support professional growth. For reasonable accommodation requests, contact accommodations@relativityspace.com. Unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies are not accepted.