Some people are motivated by titles, some by bringing humanity to the stars—but Matt Clancy is driven by good old-fashioned problem-solving.
The 26-year-old is a lead propulsion engineer at Relativity Space. He started at the up-and-coming launch company in 2021 when he came on as a graduate school intern.
He immediately fell in love with the technical challenge of developing Relativity’s engines, so he paused his studies to go full-time on rockets.
“I determined the primary goal of my career was to discover fun and interesting technical challenges,” Clancy told Payload.
Job description: At Relativity, Clancy is responsible for Aeon R engine thrust chamber assembly testing and gas generator components. In a recent two-week test campaign, with help from his team of direct reports, he oversaw 18 hot fires with four different injector designs.
Aeon R engines will power the company’s first-stage reusable 23.5-ton-to-LEO Terran R rocket, which is designed to rival Falcon 9. The launch vehicle is on track to launch in 2026.
Humble pie: Over four years at the company, Clancy has played an instrumental role in developing Relativity’s novel propulsion system and helping build a collaborative team. Clancy said he believes learning and leadership come from working as a team, side-by-side in the trenches.
“Nobody should consider themselves above re-tapping the parent thread of a botched helicoil,” he said.
Up and comers: Outside of work, Clancy visits local classrooms in Long Beach, CA, to teach hands-on STEAM lessons to kids. Activities include bottle rockets and liquid nitrogen demos. He believes making space, engineering, and science fun will encourage more students to consider a career in aerospace.
