Senior Avionics Operations Engineer

Relativity; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 148,000 - 222,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary & equity

Generous PTO & sick leave

Parental leave

Annual learning & development stipend

More benefits

Job summary

Relativity Space is seeking an experienced avionics engineer in Long Beach to lead RF/Ground Segment integration, AFSS validation, and system tests for Terran R. You will coordinate with Range Safety, NASA, and ground station partners to ensure mission readiness and provide operator manuals for next-gen launch systems.

The role requires 5+ years in avionics or integrated electrical/software systems, with scripting in Python or MATLAB for data analysis.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience with integrated systems test, such as flight test, hardware or software design validation, or development of hardware-in-the-loop test platforms.
• Experience capturing engineering requirements and performing verification/validation planning.
• Experience testing, validating, and troubleshooting complex integrated electrical and software systems.
• Experience with scripting languages such as Python or MATLAB for data acquisition/analysis.

Responsibilities

• Responsible engineer for avionics RF/Ground Segment + Autonomous Flight Safety System integration, design validation, test, and operations.
• Coordinate efforts to ensure subsystems are ready for test and launch, including system integration and verification.
• Develop vehicle-level avionics CONOPs, go/no-go criteria, system automation, and operator manuals.
• Coordinate with Range Safety, NASA, and commercial ground station partners.
• Support on-console test operations and data review for the avionics system during stage-level test and launch operations.

Skills

Python

MATLAB

System testing

Embedded systems

Data analysis

Education

BS/MS/PhD in Electrical, Computer or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

CAN

UART

SPI

Ethernet

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 Avionics team is responsible for all aspects of the electrical design on the rocket, from electronics, interconnects, associated mechanical design, testing and initial production. This team's scope includes the flight computers, power systems, RF systems, PCB design, autonomous flight safety systems, and telemetry. This team works on complex electrical systems that require modularity and flexibility, and are critical to the successful launch of Terran R, and beyond!

About The Role:

• Responsible engineer for avionics RF/Ground Segment + Autonomous Flight Safety System integration, design validation, test, and operations
• Coordinate efforts to ensure the subsystems are ready for test and launch operations, to include system integration, system testing and verification
• Develop vehicle-level avionics CONOPs, go/no-go criteria, system automation, and operator manuals
• Coordinate with 3rd parties from Range Safety, NASA, and commercial ground station partners
• Support on-console test operations and data review for the avionics system during stage-level test and launch operations

About You:

• Undergraduate or graduate degree (BS/MS/PhD) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
• 5+ years experience with integrated systems test, such as flight test, hardware or software design validation, or development of hardware in the loop test platforms
• Understanding of engineering requirements capture and the verification/validation test planning process
• Experience testing, validating, and troubleshooting complex integrated electrical and software systems
• Experience with scripting languages such as Python or MATLAB for data acquisition/recording and analysis

Nice To Haves But Not Required:

• Familiarity with regulatory requirements such as RCC319, RCC324, Part 450, and SSCMAN 91-710
• Familiarity with telemetry systems, RF theory, and telemetry standards such as IRIG 106
• Familiarity with common communication protocols such as Ethernet, CAN, UART, SPI, etc.

Hiring Range:

$148,000 - $222,000 USD

Benefits:

• competitive salary and equity
• a generous PTO and sick leave policy
• parental leave
• an annual learning and development stipend
• and more!

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.

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 [e-mail] .

Please note: Relativity Space does not accept unsolicited resumes, candidate profiles, or referrals from recruitment agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited submission - via email, our website, social media, or directly to an employ