Government Affairs Manager

Government Affairs Manager

Cape Canaveral, Florida; Long Beach, California

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 Government Affairs team plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of aerospace by ensuring Relativity's voice is heard where it matters most: on Capitol Hill, across executive agencies, and with state and local stakeholders. We drive day-to-day advocacy to influence policy outcomes that support the company's business goals, economic development, facilities, and partnerships. From drafting legislative language and attending hearings to analyzing federal budgets and attending political events, we're deeply embedded in the fast-moving world of space policy. This is a rare chance to help define national priorities, break down barriers to innovation, and influence the landscape that will define the future of space.

About the Role

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with state, county, and city officials; local economic development and workforce organizations; and represent the company before industry associations, Chambers of Commerce, and workforce boards
• Monitor and analyze state and local legislative, regulatory, and policy developments that impact company operations; advocate for the company's priorities before state legislatures, regulatory agencies, and local governing bodies
• Identify and shape opportunities for tax incentives, grants, workforce development programs, and other economic development benefits
• Coordinate with local governments on operational concerns, permitting, and community relations; participate in relevant conferences, public forums, and stakeholder meetings in coordination with the Communications team

About You

• Bachelor's degree in political science, public policy, public administration, or related field and 3-5 years of professional experience in government affairs, public policy, legislative affairs, or advocacypreferably with state and local government focus
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with government officials and policymakers; strong understanding of state legislative and local government processes
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience drafting policy materials, testimony, and advocacy documents; proven ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders
• Willingness to travel regularly (up to 30%)

Nice to haves but not required:

• Existing relationships with elected officials, agency leaders, or staff in California, Florida, and/or Mississippi
• Prior experience in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, defense, technology, or transportation sectors; experience working with or around ports, airports, spaceports, federal ranges, or other critical infrastructure operations

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: $110,000 - $166,000 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.