Lead Avionics Survivability Engineer

Relativity Space•Long Beach, CA

About The Position

The Lead Avionics Survivability Engineer leads the team responsible for ensuring Terran R’s electrical and electronic systems withstand the harsh environments of launch and spaceflight. The team oversees electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), radiation effects, and electrical, electronic, and electromechanical (EEE) component reliability across the vehicle, from individual avionics components through vehicle-level system integration. The role drives analysis, test planning, qualification campaigns, and verification activities to ensure compliance with mission requirements and industry standards. It coordinates across avionics, propulsion, structures, GNC, flight software, and external stakeholders to establish survivability requirements, assess risks, and implement mitigation strategies. The role calls for deep technical expertise in EMC, radiation effects, or physics, together with the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, manage complex test programs, and influence design decisions across the vehicle architecture.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
At least 7 years of survivability engineering experience in harsh environments and mission-critical applications, such as launch vehicles, spacecraft, aircraft, or defense systems.
Technical background in at least two of these domains: EMC/EMI, radiation effects (TID, SEE, or displacement damage), and EEE component reliability and parts engineering.
Working knowledge of the space environment and related effects, 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 and internal customers.
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, ECSS standards, or equivalent.
Experience planning and overseeing complex test programs, including EMC testing, radiation testing, and component qualification.
Strong communication skills and the ability to influence design decisions and advocate for survivability considerations across the organization.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, focused on electromagnetics, radiation physics, or materials science.
Hands-on experience with EMC test facilities, radiation test facilities such as proton or heavy-ion accelerators, or environmental test chambers.
Familiarity with electromagnetic simulation tools such as CST, FEKO, or HFSS.
Experience with parts selection, derating, and reliability prediction methodologies such as FMECA, Reliability Block Diagrams, or Physics of Failure.
Knowledge of single-event-effects 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-specific standards and requirements such as SMC-S-016, SSCMAN 91-710, RCC319-19, or NASA-STD-8739.10.
Experience establishing test facilities, laboratories, or qualification infrastructure.

Responsibilities

Lead the survivability team responsible for the electrical and electronic systems’ resilience to launch and spaceflight environments.
Oversee EMC, radiation effects, and EEE component reliability across avionics components and vehicle-level system integration.
Drive survivability analysis, test planning, qualification campaigns, and verification activities.
Ensure compliance with mission requirements and applicable industry standards.
Coordinate with avionics, propulsion, structures, GNC, flight software, and external stakeholders.
Establish survivability requirements, assess risks, and implement mitigation strategies.
Lead complex test programs and influence design decisions across the vehicle architecture.