Senior Avionics Systems Test Engineer, Operations

Relativity Space
Long Beach, CA

Who this role is best for

Aimed at experienced systems test engineers with a background in avionics and a preference for hands-on integration work.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 5+ years of integrated systems test experience in aerospace or related domains
    — “5+ years experience with integrated systems test”
  • Individuals who have developed automation and testing infrastructure for complex systems
    — “developing automation and testing infrastructure”

Things to consider

  • The role demands extensive on-console test operations during critical launch phases
    — “Support on-console test operations and data review”
  • The compensation range is broad and may vary significantly based on experience
    — “Actual compensation will be determined based on experience”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with vehicle-level system integration and validation in your resume
    — “Responsible engineer for avionics system-level integration”
  • Emphasize your ability to coordinate cross-functional test efforts and validate designs
    — “Coordinate test efforts to validate avionics system and subsystem design”
  • Showcase scripting skills in Python or MATLAB for data acquisition and analysis
    — “Experience with scripting languages such as Python or MATLAB”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Designing and executing avionics testing strategies
  • Validating avionics system and subsystem design
  • Developing vehicle-level avionics CONOPs
  • Supporting integrated system testbeds
  • Supporting on-console test operations
Typical background
BS/MS/PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field5+ years experience with integrated systems test

Skills & requirements

Required

Avionics TestingSystem IntegrationTest PlanningAutomationScriptingHardware In The Loop Testing

Preferred

Flight TestHardware Design ValidationSoftware Design ValidationDevelopment Of Hardware In The Loop Test Platforms

Stack & domain

Integrated Systems TestFlight TestHardware Design ValidationSoftware Design ValidationHardware In The Loop Test PlatformsEngineering Requirements CaptureVerification/validation Test PlanningScripting LanguagesTeamworkProblem-solvingCommunicationAerospaceAvionicsRocket Systems

About the role

Original posting from Relativity Space via Greenhouse

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:

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 Test Engineer at Relativity Space, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and executing avionics testing strategies for our rocket systems. This includes working closely with the avionics design team to identify and troubleshoot any issues, and developing automation and testing infrastructure to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Responsible engineer for avionics system-level integration, design validation, test, and operations

Coordinate test efforts to validate avionics system and subsystem design, including power system validation, fault tolerance and isolation behavior, vehicle network behavior, software validation, etc.

Develop vehicle-level avionics CONOPs, go/no-go criteria, system automation, and operator manuals

Support the development and operation of Avionics integrated system testbeds

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 wire harness design tools such as Zuken

Familiarity with CAD tools such as NX and Teamcenter

Familiarity with a PCB design modeling tool such as Altium Designer

Familiarity with common communication protocols such as Ethernet, CAN, UART, SPI, etc.

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:$148,000—$222,000 USDWe 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 accommodations@relativityspace.com.

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.

Source: Relativity Space careers (Greenhouse)

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