Senior Avionics Source Inspector, PCBA, First Shift

Relativity Space; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Relativity Space is hiring a Quality Inspector in Long Beach, CA to perform source inspections, in-process and final PCBA inspections, and ensure compliance with IPC-A-610/J-STD-001 Class 3 and NASA-STD-8739.1. Expect ~80% travel to supplier sites, with detailed record-keeping and collaboration across design, manufacturing, and QA teams.

The role emphasizes autonomy, high attention to detail, and a commitment to reliability in the Terran R program.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of hands-on PCBA, electronics SMT, or high-reliability inspection in manufacturing.
• Willingness to travel 50–80% and work independently without supervision.
• Familiar with IPC-A-610, J-STD-001 Class 3, IPC-610 Class 3 and NASA-STD-8739.1.
• High attention to detail to ensure compliance with quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Travel ~80% to supplier sites for source inspections and audits.
• Perform in-process and final inspections of PCBA and post-processing at supplier facilities.
• Inspect solder joints, placement, polarity, markings, coating, cleanliness, and workmanship.
• Use microscopes and inspection equipment to identify defects and nonconformances.
• Maintain detailed inspection records and document nonconformances.
• Stay current with avionics QA standards and best practices.
• Review purchase orders, certificates of conformance, test reports, and BOMs.
• Verify parts match PO, engineering drawings, and BOMs.

Skills

Electronics inspection

Travel readiness

Independent work

IPC-A-610 familiarity

J-STD-001 Class 3

NASA-STD-8739.1 familiarity

Attention to detail

Job description

Long Beach, California, United States

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 Reliability team at Relativity Space ensures quality is built into every stage of the Terran R design and production process, embedding reliability from the very beginning. The team works directly with design, manufacturing, test, and launch teams to stay close to the hardware, understand constraints, and proactively shape decisions. As the program moves from development into production and scaled operations, this is the time to establish the right processes, controls, and inspections without slowing progress. The team plays a key role in balancing risk, fostering a culture of ownership, and making sure speed never comes at the cost of reliability. Success means creating a quality system that scales with the Terran R program and Relativity as a whole.

This is a first-shift position with a standard schedule of Monday through Friday, 5:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. PT. The role is structured around a 50-hour workweek, including 10 guaranteed overtime hours each week.

About the Role:

• Travel approximately 80% of the time to supplier sites, both local and remote, to perform source inspections, conduct audits, and support supplier quality and compliance activities
• Perform in-process and final inspections of PCBA and post-processing at onsite supplier facilities and provide part-time support to our in-house manufacturing assembly
• Inspect solder joints, component placement, polarity, markings, conformal coating, cleanliness, and overall workmanship against drawings, specifications, and IPC-A-610
• Use microscopes and standard electronic inspection equipment to identify workmanship defects and nonconformances
• Maintain detailed inspection records and document nonconformances
• Stay current with industry standards, regulations, and best practices related to avionics quality assurance and inspection processes
• Review purchase orders, certificates of conformance, test reports, material traceability, First Article Inspection (FAI), and shipping documentation for accuracy
• Verify that parts match purchase orders, engineering blueprints, and bills of materials

About You:

• Minimum 3 years of hands‑on PCBA, electronics, SMT, or high‑reliability electronic assembly inspection experience as an electronics inspector in a manufacturing environment, preferably in a quality function.
• Ability to travel 50-80%
• Capable of working independently without supervision
• Familiar with electronics assembly and soldering standards such as IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001 Class 3
• Familiar with staking, underfill, and conformal coating standards such as IPC-610 Class 3 and NASA-STD-8739.1
• A high level of attention to detail for conducting thorough inspections and ensuring compliance with quality standards and regulations

Nice to haves but not required:

• Well‑versed in process development and first‑time quality efforts
• Highly organized and able to provide structure and direction to the previously undefined
• Familiarity with CofCs, FAI, and source inspection documentation
• Certified or previously certified in NASA-STD-8739.1 and IPC-A-610 or J-STD-001

Hiring Range:

$32.69 - $49.04 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.

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 employee - will be deemed the property of Relativity Space, and no fee will be owed absent a current, fully executed agreement with Talent Acquisition that specifically authorizes submissions for the applicable role.

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!

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