Senior Avionics PCBA Development Engineer Verified today
About the Team
The Avionics team designs, builds, tests, installs, and operates the hardware that connects and controls every major electrical system on Terran R. You'll work closely with propulsion, guidance, fluids, and stage engineering teams to ensure seamless integration.
About the Role
You are responsible for the entire bring-up of new avionics prototypes. You'll operate the SMT line, develop manufacturing processes, conduct inspections, troubleshoot defects, and maintain process control documentation. You bridge design and manufacturing, supporting DFM initiatives, prototype builds, and handover to mass production.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide DFM feedback: Review PCB designs for manufacturability and resolve assembly issues with hardware engineers before builds begin
- Operate the full SMT line: Support every station for avionics prototype builds to ensure quality and process control
- Inspect and troubleshoot: Perform first-article inspections (visual, AOI, X-ray), investigate defects such as bridging, tombstoning, and voiding, and drive corrective actions to root cause
- Program and optimize equipment: Develop programs and tune parameters, placement routines, and reflow profiles for high-reliability aerospace PCBAs
- Build and rework hardware: Support prototype and qualification builds hands-on, and perform professional-grade soldering and PCBA rework, including component replacement, BGA rework, and fine-pitch repairs
- Maintain process control documentation: Keep work instructions, assembly drawings, inspection criteria, and process specifications current
- Develop automation tools: Build tools for machine-programming automation, data-collection pipelines, and analysis workflows that improve efficiency
About You
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field (or equivalent hands-on experience)
- 5-8 years of hands-on PCBA assembly experience in a manufacturing environment
- Proficiency with SMT equipment including solder paste printers, pick-and-place, and reflow ovens
- Professional-grade soldering and rework skills, including component replacement, fine-pitch soldering, and BGA rework
- Strong understanding of SMT processes, common defects, and troubleshooting, including visual inspection, AOI, and X-ray
- Detail-oriented, able to read PCB assembly drawings, schematics, and datasheets, and comfortable building automation tools or scripts for data collection and analysis
Nice to Have
- IPC-A-610 (CIS) or IPC-J-STD-001 soldering certification
- Experience with low-to-mid-volume or prototype PCBA manufacturing and aerospace/defense quality requirements (AS9100, IPC Class 3)
- Programming and scripting skills (Python, JavaScript, SQL) for tool development and data analysis, including MES and Jira API integration
- Familiarity with selective soldering, conformal coating, potting, ESD control, moisture-sensitivity handling, component traceability, and ECAD tools such as Altium and Valor NPI
Compensation
Hiring range: $148,000-$222,000 USD. Relativity Space offers competitive salary and equity, generous PTO and sick leave, parental leave, and an annual learning and development stipend.