Senior Flight Software Engineer, Interplanetary Sciences Program Long Beach, California

Relativity; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 154,000 - 211,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous PTO

Annual learning and development stipend

Parental leave

Job summary

Relativity in Long Beach is seeking a Senior Flight Software Engineer for the Interplanetary Sciences Program. You will design and develop flight-critical software for spacecraft that govern behavior from concept to flight. The ideal candidate has strong C++ skills, experience with embedded systems, and a track record in developing autonomous deep-space missions.

This role offers a competitive salary range of $154,000 - $211,000, along with generous benefits including PTO, parental leave, and a learning stipend.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience developing, testing, and delivering embedded or real-time flight software.
• Strong proficiency in C++ with knowledge of memory management and concurrency.
• Ability to scope problems and deliver high-quality software autonomously.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and test flight software for spacecraft command and autonomy.
• Own full lifecycle software development from requirements to flight operations.
• Collaborate with avionics and mission operations teams for seamless integration.

Skills

C++

Embedded systems design

Autonomous deep-space missions

Real-time flight software development

Problem-solving skills

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering

Tools

RTOS

Linux-based systems

Python

Rust

Job description

Senior Flight Software Engineer, Interplanetary Sciences Program

Long Beach, California

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 Flight Software Engineer within the Interplanetary Sciences Program at Relativity Space, you will take ownership of the design, development, and deployment of flight‑critical software that governs how our spacecraft behaves and operates from concept through flight.

You will be responsible for building robust, reliable embedded software that enables autonomous deep‑space missions and real‑time spacecraft control. This role requires an engineer who thrives on full‑system ownership, moves fluidly between architecture and implementation, and brings rigorous engineering discipline to every phase of development from requirements capture to operational flight support.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and test flight software for spacecraft command, control, and autonomy across all mission phases
• Own full lifecycle software development: requirements capture, architecture, design, implementation, integration, test, and flight operations support
• Collaborate with avionics, GNC, propulsion, and mission operations teams to ensure seamless integration between software and spacecraft hardware
• Develop and execute verification and validation (V&V) processes to ensure flight safety, reliability, and mission success
• Support on‑vehicle and hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) testing, debugging, and mission simulations

About You

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field
• 5+ years of experience developing, testing, and delivering embedded or real‑time flight software
• Strong proficiency in C++ and solid understanding of memory management, concurrency, and embedded systems design
• Experience with RTOS or Linux‑based embedded development, software integration, and system‑level testing
• Proven ability to scope open‑ended problems, execute autonomously, and deliver high‑quality, flight‑ready software
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, fast‑paced team environment, demonstrating adaptability and problem‑solving skills

Nice to haves but not required

• Experience developing software for spaceflight, launch vehicles, or planetary spacecraft
• Familiarity with deep‑space communication protocols and autonomy frameworks
• Experience with Python or Rust for tooling, testing, or simulation support
• Background in hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing, embedded networking, or fault‑tolerant system design
• Knowledge of NASA or other aerospace software development and verification standards, applied in a modern new‑space context

Hiring Range

$154,000 - $211,000 USD

Compensation and Benefits

Real compensation is based on experience, qualifications, and other job‑related factors. We offer competitive salary and equity, generous PTO and sick leave, parental leave, an annual learning and development stipend, and more.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.