> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/3735897-principal-digital-hardware-engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/3735897-principal-digital-hardware-engineer). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Principal Digital Hardware Engineer - **Company:** Relativity Space, Inc. - **Location:** Long Beach, CA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $231,000.0 - $347,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Board Bringup, Altium Designer, Network Analysis, Computer Engineering, Digital Electronics, Logic Synthesis of Circuits, Microprocessors, Embedded Software, Ethernet, Failure Mode Effects Analysis, Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Hardware Description Language, Hardware Design, PCI Express, Signal Integrity, SystemVerilog, Verilog, VHSIC Hardware Description Language (VHDL), PIC Microcontroller, Hfss, Ansys - **Published:** October 14, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.thejobnetwork.com/job/40a28a27-5c32-4f62-b6d4-39326e38d714/principal-digital-hardware-engineer ## About the Role * Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field * 10+ years of experience in electronics designed for harsh environments and mission-critical applications such as launch vehicles, spacecraft, aircraft, or robotics * Technical expertise in high-speed digital design including implementation of high-speed serial interfaces (SERDES, PCIe, Ethernet, etc.); memory interfaces; design for SoCs, microcontrollers, microprocessors, and FPGAs * Expertise in signal integrity for high-speed digital links, including controlled-impedance stackup design, transmission line and via modeling, loss and crosstalk management, reflection and discontinuity mitigation, channel analysis, and equalization (CTLE, DFE, FFE) tradeoffs * Expertise in power integrity, including power distribution network (PDN) design to target impedance, decoupling strategy, DC IR drop and current density analysis, AC/frequency-domain PDN impedance analysis, plane resonance mitigation, and power delivery for high-current, low-voltage SoCs and FPGAs * Experience with eCAD software such as Altium or equivalent * Experience driving rigorous engineering processes (requirements capture, design reviews, design verification, etc.) * Experience working with highly cross-functional teams (mechanical, thermal, electrical, software, etc.) to develop integrated electronics solutions * Experience mentoring engineers in engineering best-practices and domain-specific technical principles * Comfortable communicating deeply technical topics to a wide variety of audiences Nice to haves but not required: * Familiarity with embedded software development and integration for real-time control systems * Experience with design for reliability and manufacturability of avionics hardware including DFMEA, accelerated life testing, and qualification testing * Proven experience verifying high-speed digital links through simulation and test, including pre- and post-layout SI/PI simulation (e.g., Keysight ADS, Ansys SIwave/HFSS, Cadence Sigrity, Siemens HyperLynx), IBIS/IBIS-AMI channel simulation, S-parameter extraction and analysis, and lab characterization using vector network analyzers (VNAs), TDR/TDT, high-bandwidth real-time and sampling oscilloscopes, BERTs, and eye diagram, jitter, and compliance measurements * Ability to correlate simulation models with measured hardware data and use the results to refine design rules and close margin on future designs * Hands-on experience with environmental testing (vibration, shock, thermal cycling, EMC) and test fixture design * Familiarity with one or more Hardware Description Languages (HDLs) including VHDL, Verilog, or SystemVerilog * Familiarity with FPGA toolchains and SoC platforms across industry leaders like AMD Xilinx, Intel, Microchip, etc. * Knowledge of safety-critical design practices and standards (e.g., DO-254, MIL-STD-1553, IPC-A-610) ## Description As a Principal Digital Hardware Engineer on the Avionics team, you will design, test, and analyze custom high-speed electronics on the Terran R launch vehicle. You will oversee hardware development through the entire product lifecycle from concept to flight maturity to include initial design, board bring-up, design verification, qualification, initial flight production, integration, and vehicle operations. You will work with cross-functional partner teams across the company to help the team make the best possible decisions for the overall vehicle. A strong candidate for the role will have a deep technical background in electronics design and sound project management skills to ensure the hardware project is both reliable and on-schedule to support Terran R's launch!