Senior Avionics Test Engineer, RF and Navigation

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

Benefits offered by this job

Salary & Equity

PTO & Sick Leave

Parental Leave

Learning stipend

Job summary

Relativity Space in Long Beach is seeking an Avionics Sr Test Engineer, RF and Navigation, to design, develop, and execute avionics testing strategies for our Terran R rocket systems. You will collaborate with hardware and software teams to identify issues and build automation to improve efficiency.

This role focuses on qualification and acceptance testing of RF, telemetry, GPS/GNSS, and navigation components, plus creating test plans, supporting regulatory activities, and operating test racks.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in RF, navigation, avionics, electronics design, simulation, or test.
• BS/MS/PhD in Electrical/Computer/Aerospace engineering or related field.
• Experience with RF test equipment: oscilloscopes, signal generators, loads.
• Experience with GPS/GNSS simulators and inertial sensor test equipment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop frameworks for qualification and acceptance testing of RF, telemetry, and navigation avionics components.
• Design test equipment and fixtures, including RF sources and simulators.
• Collaborate with hardware/software teams to derive test requirements and verification strategies.
• Create and maintain test plans for avionics systems supporting regulatory activities.
• Operate test rack hardware/software for end-to-end RF, telemetry, and navigation testing.

Skills

RF

Navigation

Avionics

Electronics design

Simulation

Test

Education

BS/MS/PhD in Electrical/Computer/Aerospace

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Signal generators

GNSS simulators

IMU test equipment

Data recorders

Job description

At Relativity Space, we’re building rockets to serve today’s needs and tomorrow’s breakthroughs. OurTerran R vehicle will deliver customer payloads to orbit, meeting the growing demand for launchcapacity. But that’s just the start. Achieving commercial success with Terran R will unlock newopportunities to advance science, exploration, and innovation, pioneering progress that reaches beyondthe 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. Nowis a unique moment in time where it’s early enough to leave your mark on the product, the process, andthe culture, but far enough along that Terran R is tangible and picking up momentum. The mostmeaningful work of your career is waiting. Join us.

About the Team:

The Avionics Test & Operations team is responsible for testing avionics hardware and systems across the entire product lifecycle of Terran R: component-, subsystem-, and vehicle-level. As an Avionics Sr Test Engineer, RF and Navigation at Relativity Space, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and executing avionics testing strategies for our RF and telemetry rocket systems. This includes working closely with the RF avionics design team to identify and troubleshoot any issues and developing automation and testing infrastructure to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

About the Role:

• Develop frameworks and infrastructure to conduct qualification and acceptance testing of RF, telemetry, and navigation avionics components, including GPS/GNSS receivers and inertial measurement units (IMUs), on the Terran R launch vehicle
• Design equipment to facilitate avionics component testing: simulation circuits, RF signal sources, GPS/GNSS and sensor simulators, auxiliary test equipment, test harnesses, mechanical fixtures and enclosures, and system validation tools
• Work with hardware design engineers and software engineers to derive test requirements, develop test methodologies, and establish verification strategies for RF and navigation systems
• Create and maintain test plans and procedures for avionics systems that support regulatory and licensing activities with government and regulatory bodies such as the FCC, ITU, and USSF
• Integrate, commission, and operate test rack hardware and software to support component- and system-level functional testing of RF, telemetry, GPS/GNSS, and inertial systems

About You:

• Undergraduate or graduate degree (BS/MS/PhD) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
• 5+ years of experience with RF, navigation, avionics, electronics design, simulation, or test
• Experience working with electronics test equipment such as power supplies, DMMs, oscilloscopes, signal generators, and electronic loads
• Experience working with RF and/or navigation test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, SDRs, RF signal generators, GNSS/GPS simulators, inertial sensor test equipment, and data recorders
• Familiarity with testing and characterization of GPS/GNSS receivers, IMUs, inertial sensors, or other navigation avionics
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

Nice to haves, but not required:

• Experience testing or characterizing active RF electronics such as PAs, LNAs, and/or radio transceivers
• Experience with GPS/GNSS testing, including signal simulation, receiver characterization, navigation performance, or interference testing
• Experience with IMU/inertial sensor testing, calibration, characterization, or hardware-in-the-loop simulation
• Experience designing or integrating RF, navigation, or avionics test systems
• Familiarity with scripting languages such as Python or MATLAB for data acquisition, recording, automation, and analysis

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.

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

Hiring Range: $148,000 – $222,000 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.

If you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact us at [e-mail].