Lead, Avionics Survivability Engineer Verified today
About the Team
The Avionics team designs, builds, tests, installs, and operates Terran R's nervous system - the hardware that connects and controls every major electrical system on the vehicle and ground. Engineers work closely across propulsion, GNC, fluids, and stage engineering to enable rapid iteration and seamless integration.
About the Role
As Lead Avionics Survivability Engineer, you will lead the survivability team responsible for ensuring Terran R's electrical and electronic systems can withstand the harsh environments of launch and spaceflight. Your team will oversee electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), radiation effects, and EEE (Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical) component reliability across the entire vehicle, from individual avionics components to vehicle-level system integration.
You will:
- Drive analysis, test planning, qualification campaigns, and verification activities
- Ensure compliance with mission requirements and industry standards
- Coordinate across avionics, propulsion, structures, GNC, flight software, and external stakeholders
- Establish survivability requirements and assess risks
- Implement and manage mitigation strategies
- Influence design decisions across the vehicle architecture
About You
- Bachelor's degree in Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related field; advanced degree preferred
- 7+ years of experience in survivability engineering for harsh environments and mission-critical applications (launch vehicles, spacecraft, aircraft, or defense systems)
- Technical background in at least two of: EMC/EMI, radiation effects (TID, SEE, displacement damage), or EEE component reliability and parts engineering
- Working knowledge of the space environment including radiation belts, solar particle events, galactic cosmic rays, vacuum, thermal extremes, and electromagnetic environments
- Experience leading cross-functional teams and coordinating technical efforts across multiple engineering disciplines
- Experience driving survivability requirements definition, risk assessments, and mitigation strategies from early design through qualification and flight
- Experience with industry standards such as MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-464, NASA EEE-INST-002, or ECSS standards
- Experience planning and overseeing complex test programs including EMC testing, radiation testing, and component qualification
- Strong communication skills with ability to influence design decisions and advocate for survivability considerations
Nice to Have
- Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related field with focus on electromagnetics, radiation physics, or materials science
- Hands-on experience with EMC test facilities, radiation test facilities (proton/heavy ion accelerators), or environmental test chambers
- Familiarity with electromagnetic simulation tools (CST, FEKO, HFSS)
- Experience with parts selection, derating, and reliability prediction methodologies (FMECA, Reliability Block Diagrams, Physics of Failure)
- Knowledge of single event effects (SEE) mitigation techniques including EDAC, triple modular redundancy, and radiation-hardened design
- Experience with destructive physical analysis (DPA) and failure analysis of electronic components
- Familiarity with launch vehicle or spacecraft standards (SMC-S-016, SSCMAN 91-710, RCC319-19, NASA-STD-8739.10)
- Experience establishing test facilities, laboratories, or qualification infrastructure
Compensation
Salary range: $151,000 to $227,000 USD. Compensation determined based on experience, qualifications, and job-related factors. Relativity Space offers competitive salary and equity, generous PTO and sick leave, parental leave, and annual learning and development stipend.