Head of Avionics Manufacturing

Relativity Space•Long Beach, CA

About The Position

Relativity Space is seeking a senior leader to oversee the strategy, organization, and delivery of avionics manufacturing for the Terran R program. This role involves defining the multi-year manufacturing strategy for avionics hardware, building and leading a team of manufacturing leaders, and contributing to company-level discussions on production readiness, capacity, and risk. The position requires close collaboration with executive leadership across Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Program Management to ensure avionics manufacturing scales effectively with the vehicle program. The successful candidate will be responsible for translating factory-floor realities into strategic insights that inform company-level decisions.

Requirements

5+ years in progressive leadership roles, ideally with experience leading other manufacturing leaders/managers.
Proven track record owning complex electro-mechanical manufacturing and test operations at the organizational level (PCBAs, wire harnesses, integrated avionics units).
Demonstrated ability to operate at both strategic and tactical levels: fluent in electronics manufacturing processes (PCB assembly, conformal coating, potting, ESD protocols, wire harness fabrication) and capable of setting multi-year direction and influencing executive decisions.
Experience building and scaling a manufacturing organization through a volume ramp, from development-rate to high-rate production.
Track record of leading through ambiguity and aggressive, shifting timelines, and communicating that reality clearly to executive stakeholders.
Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.

Nice To Haves

Experience with spaceflight avionics testing and standards (SMC-S-016, MIL-STD-810, RCC-319/324 or equivalents).
Familiarity with electronics manufacturing standards (IPC-610, IPC-J-STD-001 Space Addendum, IPC/WHMA-A-620) and PCB line operations.
Experience standing up new production or test lines from scratch, including equipment selection, layout, staffing, and process validation.
Lean/Six Sigma leadership experience applied at the organizational level.
Experience with high-voltage lithium-ion battery assembly manufacturing.

Responsibilities

Set the multi-year strategy for avionics manufacturing, including capacity planning, make/buy decisions, automation roadmap, and organizational design, in partnership with VP/executive stakeholders.
Build, lead, and develop a multi-layered organization of manufacturing leaders responsible for manufacturing engineering, functional/environmental test, and production operations.
Represent avionics manufacturing in company-wide program reviews, translating production data into risk exposure, timeline confidence, and resourcing recommendations for executive audiences.
Own the end-to-end manufacturing and test roadmap for all avionics hardware, from process development and test infrastructure through full-rate production and vehicle integration readiness.
Drive the transition from development to high-rate production, focusing on improving reliability, reducing cycle time, and maintaining yield and quality targets.
Set and hold the organization accountable for schedule, yield, and quality commitments, using data to identify risks proactively.
Drive alignment across design engineering, test engineering, systems engineering, vehicle integration, supply chain, and quality to ensure avionics hardware is manufacturable, testable, and deliverable at rate.
Champion automation, digital production tooling, and lean practices to improve throughput and ensure traceability and compliance at scale.
Build a process for proactive escalation of anomalies and risks to leadership before they become program-level issues.