Senior Optical Communications Engineer Long Beach, California

Relativity; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 214,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and equity

Generous PTO and sick leave policy

Annual learning and development stipend

Job summary

Relativity in Long Beach, California is seeking a Senior Optical Communications Engineer to lead the design and delivery of a deep-space optical communications terminal. You will translate mission needs into performance requirements and work in a fast-paced environment pushing innovative technologies for interplanetary missions.

This role provides the unique opportunity to impact breakthrough science across the solar system while operating in a collaborative team setup. Excellent hands-on skills and communication abilities are paramount.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in laser communications, optical systems engineering, or spacecraft communications.
• Proven ability to take complex systems from concept through deployment.
• Hands-on proficiency in prototyping, including optics and mechanics.

Responsibilities

• Own the architecture, design, development, and delivery of optical communications terminal.
• Translate mission needs into performance requirements and develop architectures.
• Lead development campaigns to evaluate technologies and validate performance.

Skills

Laser communications

Optical systems engineering

Spacecraft communications system development

Electromechanical prototyping

Optical communications subsystems including PAT

Excellent communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in relevant engineering field

Tools

Optics

Electronics

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 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 Optical Communications Engineer within the Interplanetary Sciences Program, you will own the end-to-end architecture, design, development, and delivery of a deep-space optical communications terminal. You will be responsible for translating mission needs into system performance requirements, developing architectures, and driving implementation through in-house design or external partnerships.

This role offers the opportunity to define and execute one of the most critical technologies enabling next-generation interplanetary missions. You will operate in a fast-paced, iterative environment, where rapid prototyping, early testing, and continuous learning are key to success. You’ll lead hands‑on development campaigns to evaluate key technologies, derisk interfaces, and validate performance before full system integration.

You’ll work across internal and external teams to turn concepts into hardware, balancing agility and rigor as you move quickly from analysis to prototypes to flight‑ready systems. Ultimately, you will lead the effort to deliver a robust, high‑performance optical communications capability that enables breakthrough science across the solar system.

About You

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field
• 5+ years of experience in laser communications, optical systems engineering, or spacecraft communications system development
• Proven ability to take complex technical systems from concept through qualification, integration, and operational deployment
• Hands‑on proficiency in electromechanical prototyping, including integration of optics, electronics, and mechanical subsystems such as gimbals, pointing mechanisms, and precision mounts
• Deep understanding of optical communications subsystems, including pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT); modems; and photonic hardware
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to synthesize technical details and drive decision‑making across engineering and program teams

Nice to Haves but Not Required

• Experience with spaceflight hardware environmental testing and qualification
• Familiarity with NASA or commercial spacecraft systems engineering processes in an applied / New‑Space manner is a plus
• Experience with deep‑space or high‑radiation avionics systems

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.

Hiring Range: $160,000 - $214,000 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.