Senior Avionics Hardware Engineer

Relativity; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Equity

PTO & sick leave policy

Parental leave

Learning stipend

Job summary

Relativity Space is seeking a Senior Avionics Hardware Engineer within the Interplanetary Program to own spacecraft avionics from concept through flight. You will shape an interplanetary avionics architecture and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-performance, reliable systems for deep-space missions.

The role requires a motivated engineer who thrives in a fast-paced environment, with hands-on experience in schematic capture, PCB layout, and system-level testing, and the

Qualifications

• Degree in aerospace or electrical engineering or related field.
• 5+ years designing avionics or electronics for aerospace or similar environments.
• Proven ability to take a design from concept through production with minimal supervision.
• Hands-on experience with schematic capture, PCB layout, embedded interfaces, and testing.
• Strong cross-functional communication and technical documentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop avionics architectures and flight-ready hardware from concept to flight.
• Collaborate with propulsion, guidance, thermal and software teams for integration.
• Lead hardware builds, PCB design, harnessing, and environmental qualification.
• Maintain design docs, test plans, and reports with clear communication.
• Coordinate component selection and delivery schedules with suppliers.
• Ensure reliability and safety for deep-space missions.

Skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Production-ready design

Strong communication

Hands-on hardware debugging

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Aerospace or Electrical Engineering

Tools

Schematic capture

PCB layout

Embedded software interfaces

System-level testing

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 Interplanetary Sciences Program was established to expand access to scientific exploration across our solar system. Its mission is to make planetary research faster, more affordable, and more capable than ever before by rethinking how science missions are designed, built, and operated . The program aims to enable scientists to send instruments to distant worlds without decades of development or prohibitive costs. By creating a sustainable model for interplanetary exploration, we are transforming space science from an occasional event into a continuous process of discovery that accelerates knowledge, broadens participation, and inspires the next generation of explorers .

About the Role:

As a Senior Avionics Hardware Engineer within the Interplanetary Program at Relativity Space, you will take ownership of the design, development, and delivery of spacecraft avionics systems from concept through flight. You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to create reliable, high-performance avionics that enable deep-space exploration.

This position requires a highly motivated engineer who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can execute with autonomy. You will help define the foundation of Relativity's future interplanetary avionics architecture while setting the technical standards for future team growth.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop complete avionics systems, including architecture, design, integration, and verification, from initial concept through flight-qualified hardware
• Collaborate with propulsion, guidance and control, thermal and software teams to ensure seamless integration and performance of avionics systems
• Implement robust design and test processes that ensure reliability and safety for deep-space missions
• Lead the technical execution of avionics hardware builds, including PCB design, harnessing, embedded systems, and environmental qualification
• Coordinate with suppliers and internal stakeholders to manage component selection, testing, and delivery schedules
• Maintain accurate design documentation, test plans, and reports, demonstrating strong communication and organizational skills

About You:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field
• 5+ years of experience designing, developing, and delivering avionics or electronics for aerospace systems or similarly complex environments
• Demonstrated ability to take a design from concept through production with minimal supervision
• Hands-on experience with schematic capture, PCB layout, embedded software interfaces, and system-level testing
• Proven track record of working cross-functionally and communicating technical information clearly to diverse audiences
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, fast-paced team environment, demonstrating adaptability and problem-solving skills

Nice to haves but not required:

• Direct technical experience in Mars missions is a plus
• Experience with NASA aerospace systems engineering practices in an applied / new-space manner is a plus
• Experience with deep-space or high-radiation avionics systems
• Background in spaceflight hardware environmental testing and qualification

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 her