Relativity Space

Staff Materials & Processes Engineer, Avionics

Relativity Space • $150K — $226K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in materials science, engineering, or related field
  • 7+ years of relevant avionics materials and processes experience
  • Experience with avionics M&P activities including material selection and failure analysis
  • Strong commitment to accountability and collaboration
  • Desire to build interdisciplinary relationships
  • Inclusive mindset towards team growth and development
  • Passion for fast-paced, iterative avionics product development

Responsibilities

  • Serve as the M&P engineer for avionics electrical and mechanical hardware
  • Qualify avionics materials and processes for flight and reuse
  • Develop and maintain technical specifications and engineering standards
  • Drive experimental design and process improvement initiatives
  • Collaborate with materials engineers to address technology gaps
  • Work with laboratory staff to characterize materials and processes
  • Support materials selection and qualification with avionics engineers

Benefits

  • Competitive salary and equity
  • Generous PTO and sick leave policy
  • Parental leave
  • Annual learning and development stipend
  • Commitment to transparency and fairness in compensation practices
Full Job Description
About the Team:

The Materials and NDE (Non-Destructive Evaluation) team plays a central role in enabling Terran R to fly, re-fly, and scale: developing, characterizing, and inspecting materials and processes across all parts of the vehicle. From welding and additive manufacturing to advanced composites, the team works at the intersection of innovation and execution, balancing performance and reliability with cost, quality, and schedule. As we move toward first flight and beyond, the challenges become more exciting, offering opportunities to shape how we design and develop for re-use. With ownership across products, systems, and disciplines, engineers gain broad exposure and drive key decisions across design, manufacturing, and operations.

About the Role:
  • Be the cognizant M&P engineer of Terran-R avionics electrical and mechanical hardware
  • Qualify avionics materials and processes for flight and reuse
  • Develop, implement, and maintain technical specifications and engineering standards
  • Drive statistically-driven experimental design and process improvement campaigns
  • Interface with:
    • Materials engineers to identify, define, and fill critical technology gaps
    • Laboratory staff to characterize materials and processes
    • Avionics responsible engineers to support materials selection, design and analysis, qualification, failure analysis, flight, and reuse
    • Process and manufacturing engineers to develop processes, troubleshoot issues, and enable cost & rate while maintaining performance
    • Quality assurance and supply chain to ensure subcontractor compliance and reliability
    • Relativity + Customer Fracture Control Boards to achieve vehicle reuse
    • Leadership to develop technical roadmaps, elevate risks, and overcome roadblocks

About You:
  • Bachelor's degree in materials science or engineering, or related field
  • 7+ years of relevant avionics materials and processes experience (note: leveling is flexible based on candidate's background)
  • Experience with general avionics M&P activities, such as material selection, process development, qualification, damage tolerance, inspections, risk assessments, and failure analysis
  • A core commitment to accountability, collaboration, and execution
  • A desire to establish and foster strong interdisciplinary relationships across the company
  • An authentic, introspective, and inclusive mindset towards technical, interpersonal, team growth, and development
  • Passion to work in a fast-paced and challenging environment on constantly iterating avionics products + processes, driving big impact on critical program needs as we ramp manufacturing rate + achieve reuse

Nice to haves, but not required:
  • Demonstrated ownership and impact with aerospace avionics products and their associated materials and processes through the full part lifecycle (power systems, batteries, controllers, transceivers, antennas, sensors, and harnesses)
  • Expertise in printed circuit board assembly processes (solder paste printing, vapor phase reflow, underfill, staking, board wash, and conformal coat)
  • Expertise of avionics materials for structural (metallic alloys, structural polymers, gap-fill elastomers, etc.) and electronic (PCB laminates, conformal coatings, solder alloys, thermal interface, encapsulants, etc.) application
  • Hands-on familiarity with battery assembly materials and processes, including multi-material joinability (e.g., laser welding, friction stir welding, wire bonding) and automated dispensing of structural and thermal interface adhesives
  • Knowledge of relevant industry standards (NASA, J-STD, IPC, SMC, TOR, etc.)
  • Experience with statistical experimental design and data 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.

Hiring Range:

$150,000-$226,000 USD

About Relativity Space

Relativity Space is an American aerospace manufacturer that is developing 3D printed rockets. The company was founded in 2015 by Tim Ellis and Jordan Noone, and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Relativity Space's goal is to reduce the cost and time required to produce rockets by using 3D printing technology. The company's rockets are designed to be fully reusable, which could significantly reduce the cost of space launches. Relativity Space has received funding from a number of investors, including Mark Cuban and Playground Global.
Learn more about Relativity Space
Size
200 employees
Industry
Founded
2016

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Relativity Space

More Aerospace & Defense Jobs

Find similar Staff Materials & Processes Engineer, Avionics jobs: