Staff Technical Program Manager, Operational Readiness

Company: Relativity Space
Location: Long Beach
Posted on: February 17, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description 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 Vehicle Engineering organization at Relativity Space encompasses vehicle design, dev, & build, as well as the analysis, software, CONOPs development, risk management, and customer and regulatory activities required for vehicle testing and launch operations. We are seeking a Technical Program Manager to establish program management methodology for all workstreams outside of hardware delivery that are required for vehicle operations. This will include program management of CONOPs and procedure development, software and GNC readiness, and closure of systems engineering & certification activity. This role will be critical in driving operational excellence across all engineering disciplines, standardizing programmatic best practices, and acting as a senior interface to leadership across Relativity Space. Success in this role will mean making this critical work visible and building responsive and scalable processes to avoid critical path delays and enable an industry leading, rapid operational cadence. About the Role: Execution Strategy & Risk Management Own schedule adherence, risk management, and reporting cadence for operational readiness across all engineering functions. Identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with operational readiness, ensuring proactive problem resolution to identify risks coming down the pipeline Present program updates, risks, and strategic recommendations to the executive team Cross-Functional and Strategic Leadership Establish and maintain a culture of excellence in execution for engineering operational readiness Collaborate with PMOs and department leaders across the company to integrate non-hardware workstreams into a program level Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) and use the IMS to understand true program critical path, escalate issues and decision points, and make recommendations on the best solutions Goal Tracking & Reporting Establish goals and metrics to monitor operational performance and increase the predictability and efficiency of engineering work - building the scoreboard for accountability for the engineering team Facilitate strong communication within departments and across the program to ensure transparency in program status for all relevant stakeholders Team Growth & Development Establish, standardize, and continuously improve program management methodologies, tools, templates, and best practices across all engineering operational readiness efforts About You: Bachelor's degree in engineering, science, mathematics, or related fields; aerospace, electrical, or mechanical engineering degree preferred 5 years technical leadership experience, proven track record of success and strategic thinking while balancing conflicting priorities and goals 7 years in a Program Management role leading a large cross-functional program, including hardware, software, and operations Demonstrated success leading large, cross-functional hardware teams from concept through delivery in fast-paced, high-ambiguity environments. Seamlessly able to switch between tactical execution and 30,000-ft perspective Proven ability to communicate with highly technical teams and to bridge communication between technical and non-technical teams A systems mindset: identifying program dependencies, interfaces, risks and the impact of key technical and program decisions on other teams and at company level on hardware product development Nice to haves but not required: Experience with launch vehicles, propulsion systems, or aerospace hardware PMP, MBA, Master's in engineering, science, mathematics or related fields, or equivalent experience preferred Proven ability and high confidence in presenting effectively to C-level executives and board of directors with clarity and strategic insight 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: $155,000—$197,000 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 accommodations@relativityspace.com.

Keywords: Relativity Space, Yucaipa , Staff Technical Program Manager, Operational Readiness, Engineering , Long Beach, California