Senior Recovery Certification and Operations Engineer

Posted 2 Hours Ago
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Cape Canaveral, FL, USA
In-Office
117K-175K Annually
Senior level
Aerospace • Hardware • Robotics • Software • Manufacturing
Building reusable rockets to empower science and exploration.
The Role
Lead vessel certification and regulatory coordination for offshore recovery vessels; support design, construction, sea trials, and mission operations. Ensure compliance with USCG/ABS/FAA/USSF/NASA requirements, apply marine engineering expertise, support offshore recovery campaigns, and drive continuous improvement across cross-functional teams.
Summary Generated by Built In

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 Offshore Recovery team is responsible for designing, building and operating the maritime vessels used to land and recover the Terran R launch vehicle. This isn’t your standard desk job. We are a lean, fast-moving team who cover the full project lifecycle – beginning with system requirements definition and design, hands-on with build and activation in the shipyard, all the way through supporting critical offshore recovery missions at sea. We collaborate with teams across the company, including Terran R designers, launch pad builders and rocket engine testers!

About the Role

  • Certification Leadership: Lead the vessel certification effort and serve as the primary point of contact with regulatory and certification organizations throughout the vessel lifecycle, including design, construction, sea trials, certification, and offshore mission support.
  • Regulatory Coordination: Support Relativity's dockside and offshore operations by coordinating with applicable regulatory and certification organizations, including the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), U.S. Space Force (USSF), NASA, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and other applicable agencies.
  • Offshore Operations Support: Support offshore recovery campaigns by helping ensure vessel systems and operations meet applicable certification and regulatory requirements for the landing and recovery of Terran R.
  • Continuous Improvement: Apply operational experience and lessons learned from existing recovery platforms to support the design, certification, and implementation of future landing platform capabilities.
  • Cross-Functional Partnership: Build and maintain collaborative relationships with internal engineering teams and external regulatory and certification organizations to support long-term operational objectives and increased launch cadence.

About You

  • Demonstrated ability to take initiative, adapt to changing priorities, and contribute across multiple responsibilities in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.
  • Experience supporting the offshore vessel certification process, including coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), and other applicable regulatory and certification organizations. Experience with novel vessel construction, spaceport operations, or organizations such as DNV, USSF, or the FAA is preferred.
  • Strong understanding of marine engineering principles, applicable regulations, and certification requirements, with the ability to interpret and apply regulatory requirements to complex maritime projects.
  • Ability and willingness to travel approximately 25% of the time, with occasional weekend travel or work based on business needs. Travel requirements may vary depending on project phase, including engineering, certification, shipyard activities, sea trials, home port operations, and mission support.
  • Experience in offshore maritime operations or a related marine environment, including familiarity with the operational challenges associated with offshore vessels.
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with regulatory agencies, certification organizations, engineering teams, and offshore operations personnel.
  • Proven ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams.

Nice to haves but not required:

  • Experience supporting offshore launch, recovery, or other complex offshore operations involving marine assets.
  • Experience supporting vessel construction, modification, retrofit, or repair programs in a shipyard or similar industrial environment.

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:
$116,500$175,000 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].


Skills Required

  • Experience supporting offshore vessel certification processes and coordinating with regulatory organizations (USCG, ABS, etc.)
  • Strong understanding of marine engineering principles, applicable maritime regulations, and certification requirements
  • Experience in offshore maritime operations or related marine environments
  • Ability and willingness to travel approximately 25% of the time, including occasional weekends
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with regulatory agencies, certification organizations, engineering teams, and offshore operations personnel
  • Proven ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams and adapt to changing priorities
  • Ability to clear a US government background check for on-site work at a government partner location
  • Experience with novel vessel construction, spaceport operations, or organizations such as DNV, USSF, or the FAA
  • Experience supporting offshore launch, recovery, or vessel construction/modification in a shipyard or similar industrial environment

Relativity Space Compensation & Benefits Highlights

  • Healthcare Strength Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with company‑funded HSA contributions, mental‑health resources, and One Medical are highlighted. EAP access, a wellness stipend, and gym discounts further reinforce the health and wellness offering.
  • Parental & Family Support Generous parental leave and a $10,000 stipend for fertility, adoption, and other family‑building needs are prominently offered. Adoption assistance, a return‑to‑work program, partnership with Carrot Fertility, and an onsite Mother’s Room add depth.
  • Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits Everyday perks include complimentary lunches/snacks, visiting food trucks, quarterly barbecues, offsites, and milestone celebrations. An annual learning stipend, Lunch‑and‑Learns, and conference access support growth and day‑to‑day engagement.

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The Company
HQ: Long Beach, CA
2,200 Employees
Year Founded: 2016

What We Do

Relativity Space is on a mission to better connect humanity to space and the universe beyond our planet. Our medium-to-heavy lift reusable rocket, Terran R, 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.

Why Work With Us

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.

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Relativity Space Offices

OnSite Workspace

At Relativity Space, we are an office-first company. We believe our best work happens in person—where collaboration is faster, problem-solving is sharper, and ideas flow more freely.

Typical time on-site: None
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HQThe Wormhole
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Launch Complex 16
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NASA Stennis Space Center
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Kent, WA
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Washington, DC
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