Relativity Space in 2026: 3D-Printed Rockets, New CEO, and the Terran R Push
Relativity Space in 2026: 3D-printed rockets, new CEO, and the Terran R push
Relativity Space is building Terran R — a fully reusable, 3D-printed medium-lift rocket — and it just went through a leadership shakeup that changed the company's trajectory. Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO, replaced co-founder Tim Ellis as CEO in March 2025 and took a controlling stake. With ~1,700 employees, 283 active job openings, and a first launch targeted for late 2026, Relativity is one of the most ambitious bets in commercial space.
What Relativity does differently
Relativity's core innovation is its Stargate 3D printers — the largest metal 3D printers in the world. Instead of manufacturing rockets from thousands of traditionally machined parts, Relativity prints major structures with 100x fewer parts. This theoretically enables:
- Faster iteration: Print a new design in days, not months
- Lower tooling costs: No custom jigs, fixtures, or molds
- Manufacturing scalability: Same printers can produce different vehicle variants
Terran 1 (the company's first rocket) launched once in March 2023 — it reached Max-Q but the second stage failed to ignite. Rather than iterating on the small Terran 1, Relativity pivoted entirely to the much larger Terran R.
Terran R: the rocket
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Medium-lift, fully reusable |
| Payload to LEO | ~22,500 kg (reusable) |
| Engines | Aeon R (methane/LOX) |
| First launch target | Late 2026, Cape Canaveral |
| Reusability | First and second stage both designed for recovery |
| Manufacturing | 3D-printed primary structures via Stargate printers |
As of early 2026, the second stage tank has passed structural acceptance testing and first stage welding is complete. Primary structures of the first flight vehicle are taking shape at Relativity's Long Beach, CA factory.
Customers: SES has expanded a multi-launch agreement with Relativity, providing commercial validation. Terran R competes in the same payload class as Falcon 9 (reusable mode), Neutron (Rocket Lab), and New Glenn (Blue Origin).
The Eric Schmidt era
The CEO change in March 2025 was significant. Eric Schmidt brings:
- Deep pockets and tech industry connections
- A controlling ownership stake (personal investment commitment)
- Google-scale operational experience
- Focus on manufacturing automation and AI-driven processes
The shift signals Relativity is positioning itself as a technology company that builds rockets, not just a rocket company. Schmidt's involvement also improves access to capital markets and potential strategic partnerships.
Salaries and roles
| Role | Salary Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Propulsion Engineer | ~$134K avg | Higher base than SpaceX |
| Software Engineer | $130K–$170K | Flight software, manufacturing automation |
| Mechanical Engineer | $100K–$145K | Structures, mechanisms |
| Manufacturing Engineer | $90K–$130K | 3D printing, post-processing |
| Systems Engineer | $110K–$155K | Vehicle integration |
| Test Engineer | $95K–$135K | Propulsion and structural testing |
Relativity pays higher base salaries than SpaceX ($95K-$115K entry) but below defense primes ($140K+). As a late-stage private company, equity grants have significant upside potential if Terran R succeeds and the company goes public or gets acquired.
Working at Relativity
HQ: Long Beach, California — shared aerospace corridor with Rocket Lab, Virgin Orbit (closed), and close to SpaceX Hawthorne.
Culture: Silicon Valley startup energy applied to rocket manufacturing. Strong emphasis on rapid iteration and software-driven manufacturing processes. Smaller teams than SpaceX or Blue Origin, meaning individual contributors have more ownership and impact.
Engineering focus: If you want to work at the intersection of advanced manufacturing, robotics, and aerospace, Relativity is one of the few places doing all three. The Stargate printer systems involve materials science, robotics, process control, and traditional rocket engineering.
Risk factor: Relativity has yet to reach orbit. Terran 1's single flight failed at second stage ignition. Terran R is a much more ambitious vehicle. The company has burned through significant capital and the CEO change introduces new strategic direction. Joining pre-first-flight means accepting execution risk in exchange for potential upside.
Relativity has 283 open positions and ~1,700 employees — a substantial operation for a company that hasn't yet reached orbit with its production vehicle. If Terran R's late-2026 first launch succeeds, Relativity's valuation and growth trajectory could accelerate dramatically. If it fails or slips significantly, the company faces the same funding pressure that has shuttered other launch startups. Joining now is a high-risk, high-reward career bet.
How to get hired
Relativity hires through its careers page and standard job boards. The interview process is technically rigorous, with emphasis on:
- First-principles problem solving
- Experience with manufacturing processes or rapid prototyping
- Software skills (Python, C++, manufacturing automation)
- Comfort with ambiguity (pre-flight company, evolving processes)
Strong candidates often come from SpaceX (engineers wanting better work-life balance), traditional aerospace (engineers wanting faster pace), and manufacturing/robotics backgrounds (non-aerospace hires who bring production expertise).
Browse all 283 Relativity Space positions, or compare with other launch companies: SpaceX (1,577 jobs), Rocket Lab (293 jobs), Blue Origin (981 jobs), or Firefly Aerospace (202 jobs). For salary context, see our aerospace engineer salary guide.
