Lead PCBA Technician
At Relativity Space, we have two audacious goals: to build the next great commercial launch company with Terran R and to become America's leading force in additive manufacturing innovation. Both contribute to our long-term vision of creating humanity’s industrial base on Mars, paving the way for interplanetary life to expand the possibilities of the human experience. This journey begins right here on Earth – where we design, build, and fly rockets to deliver customer payloads to orbit. Terran R, our medium-to-heavy lift reusable rocket, fulfills the growing demand for launch capacity, thanks to our iterative approach that accelerates design, testing, and development while minimizing costs. While our groundbreaking research and development in 3D printing pushes the boundaries of large-scale additive manufacturing.
Your journey with us is more than just a job – it’s an opportunity to shape the future of aerospace technology, additive manufacturing, and the human experience alongside a community of passionate, creative individuals. Join us on this extraordinary journey, as we work together to transform our vision into reality.
About the Team:
The Avionics team is responsible for all aspects of the electrical design on the rocket, from electronics, interconnects, associated mechanical design, testing and initial production. This team's scope includes the flight computers, power systems, RF systems, PCB design, autonomous flight safety systems, and telemetry. This team works on complex electrical systems that require modularity and flexibility, and are critical to the successful launch of Terran R, and beyond!
About the Role:
- Lead hands-on assembly, rework, and inspection of high-reliability printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) and complete avionics electromechanical units
- Perform precision soldering, staking, conformal coating, and component-level rework on digital, analog, and RF circuit boards
- Build flight and development avionics hardware from the ground up — integrating PCBAs, connectors, cabling, thermal interfaces, fasteners, and enclosures into complete units
- Interpret engineering drawings, wiring diagrams, mechanical assembly models, and work instructions with minimal supervision
- Serve as the technical lead for avionics box builds on the production floor, ensuring consistent build quality, configuration control, and documentation of as-built configurations
- Collaborate closely with design engineers, manufacturing engineers, and quality to troubleshoot build issues, implement process improvements, and maintain flight-readiness standards
- Train and mentor technicians on best practices in both PCBA and electromechanical assembly, driving adherence to workmanship standards such as IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, and NASA-STD-8739 series
- Manage work center readiness, including tool calibration, ESD compliance, inventory of consumables, and implementation of lean manufacturing practices.
About You:
- 5+ years of experience in electronics manufacturing, with hands-on expertise in both PCBA rework and electromechanical assembly
- Proficient in fine-pitch soldering, component-level troubleshooting, and rework using hot air, soldering iron, and rework stations
- Strong mechanical assembly skills, including torque tools, bonding, and integration of electronics into enclosures or chassis
- In-depth knowledge of IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, and general high-reliability workmanship standards
- Proven ability to lead by example, provide technical guidance, and uphold build quality in a fast-paced, hardware development environment
- Comfortable reading and interpreting complex electrical schematics, mechanical drawings, and assembly documentation
- Excellent communication skills and attention to detail; capable of documenting build issues clearly and contributing to root cause investigations
Nice to haves but not required:
- IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, or NASA-STD-8739.x certification (current or expired)
- Experience with flight hardware builds for aerospace or space systems
- Familiarity with cable and harness assembly, including wire crimping, stripping, and routing (per IPC/WHMA-A-620 or similar)
- Experience working in a cleanroom or controlled manufacturing environment
- Background using MES/ERP systems for tracking work orders, part usage, and nonconformances
At Relativity Space, we are committed to transparency and fairness in our compensation practices. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors.
Compensation is only one part of our total rewards package. Relativity Space offers competitive salary and equity, a generous PTO and sick leave policy, parental leave, an annual learning and development stipend, and more! To see some of the benefits & perks we offer, please visit here.
Hiring Range:
$48.15 - $62.32 USD
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
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