Senior Hardware Engineer, Navigation

About the role

You will oversee the development, testing, and integration of navigation avionics for the Terran R launch vehicle. This role involves managing critical sensory infrastructure required for booster stage recovery and landing while collaborating with cross-functional teams on architectural trade studies.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Lead the design, qualification, and acceptance testing for navigation hardware.
• Act as the subject matter expert for the navigation sensor suite and its operational requirements.
• Integrate GNSS receivers and inertial measurement sensors into high-dynamic vehicle environments.
• Coordinate with propulsion, GNC, fluids, and stage engineering teams to ensure hardware compatibility.

Requirements

• Bachelor degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience designing electronics for mission-critical or harsh environments, including robotics, aircraft, spacecraft, or launch vehicles.
• Technical proficiency in GNSS systems, including satellite acquisition, tracking, PVT calculation, and error mitigation.
• Understanding of IMU operating principles, error characteristics, and integration with secondary navigation sensors.
• Proven experience in hardware debugging, validation, bring-up, and data analysis.

Nice to have

• Expertise in navigation principles and mixed-signal PCBA design.
• Experience in defense, aerospace, or automotive industries.
• Ability to fuse data from multiple sensors such as LiDAR, magnetometers, altimeters, GPS, and IMUs.
• Background in high-speed serial interfaces like Ethernet, PCIe, or SPI, as well as design for microprocessors, microcontrollers, and SoCs.

Skills & tools

• GNSS and IMU integration
• Navigation sensor suite architecture
• Hardware validation and debugging
• Cross-functional systems integration

Practical notes

Relativity Space provides a comprehensive benefits package including equity, competitive salary, parental leave, PTO, and a learning stipend. The company is an equal opportunity employer. Requests for reasonable accommodations during the application process can be sent to accommodations@relativityspace.com.