Staff Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT) Engineer

Relativity Space•Long Beach, CA

5d•$164,000 - $246,000•Onsite

About The Position

Relativity Space’s Interplanetary Sciences Program is developing a privately funded science mission to Mars targeted for 2028. The mission will map shallow subsurface ice and geology, characterize Martian weather, enable next-generation onboard processing and communication, and demonstrate a philanthropic public-private partnership model for space science. The Staff Assembly, Integration & Test (AI&T) Engineer will own integration and test campaigns for the Mars orbiter. This engineer will define how the spacecraft and its payloads are assembled, verified, and prepared for launch, and lead that work hands-on with the engineering team. The role is full-time and based at Relativity Space headquarters in Long Beach, California.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, or a related engineering field.
At least 7 years of hands-on experience integrating and testing spacecraft or similarly complex flight hardware.
Experience leading spacecraft or payload integration and environmental test campaigns, including thermal vacuum and vibration testing.
Ability to write and execute test plans and procedures, assess test data, and close verification requirements.
Strong hardware troubleshooting skills and sound technical judgment under schedule pressure.
Experience working across hardware, software, and systems engineering teams to take a flight system from development through delivery.

Nice To Haves

Spacecraft-level AI&T ownership on a deep-space or other one-of-a-kind mission.
Optical communications, precision pointing, or other tightly coupled payload integration experience.
Electrical ground support equipment, automated test systems, and hardware-in-the-loop testing experience.
Cleanroom operations, ESD controls, and flight hardware handling experience.
Launch site integration or launch campaign support experience.

Responsibilities

Own the spacecraft integration flow and test campaigns, from component and subsystem testing through vehicle-level environmental testing and launch preparation.
Develop assembly and integration procedures, test plans, acceptance criteria, and verification approaches with systems and discipline leads.
Plan and lead system-level thermal, vibration, EMI/EMC, functional, and end-to-end integrated spacecraft payload tests.
Design mechanical and electrical ground support equipment, tooling, and test setups for the campaign.
Identify and establish the infrastructure required for the integration campaign, including test assets and cleanrooms.
Lead test readiness reviews, execute tests, assess results, resolve discrepancies, and drive failures to root cause and closure.
Shape the evolving spacecraft design by identifying assembly, access, handling, and testability risks early.
Maintain clear hardware configuration, assembly and test records, and verification evidence through delivery and launch.