Software Development Engineer in Test
Posted
Summary
Entry-level Software Development Engineer in Test role at Relativity Space working on safety-critical vehicle software for the Terran R rocket. Day-to-day involves executing test/release procedures, writing Python automation for CI/CD pipelines, validating release candidates, and supporting hardware-in-the-loop test campaigns under senior mentorship.
- The Vehicle Software team develops the safety-critical software that runs on Terran R. The work spans a distributed, real-time control system operating under extreme conditions like Mach 5 atmospheric flight, with a deployment pace that allows you to see your code run on rocket engines daily
- The team is building new system architecture from the ground up and just as importantly, testing, releasing, and deploying it. You don’t need an aerospace background: what matters is experience with high-reliability software for complex system
- This is a rare opportunity to shape the foundation of Terran R’s software stack while directly influencing performance, reliability, and flight success
- As a Software Development Engineer in Test I on the TRADE team, you’ll execute well-defined testing and release tasks under the guidance of senior engineers, building the skills to take on greater release ownership over time
- You’ll write and maintain Python automation for release workflows, validation steps, and artifact management, starting with smaller, well-scoped scripts and tasks, with mentorship from staff engineers as you grow
- This role is hands-on and detail-oriented. You’ll follow established procedures to validate and help publish release candidates, support Run-for-Record campaigns, and coordinate directly with developers, systems engineers, test operators, and integration teams on smaller-scope items, while senior engineers lead broader cross-team alignment
- Execute assigned testing and release tasks following documented procedures, with review from senior engineers
- Write and maintain Python scripts to automate release validation steps and artifact handling, under mentorship
- Help validate and publish release candidates from multiple software teams (e.g. flight and embedded software), as directed
- Coordinate with developers, systems engineers, test operators, and integration teams on day-to-day release and testing needs
- Support Run-for-Record campaigns, helping prepare environments, capture results, and store test artifacts
- Assist with post-release deployment validation and basic troubleshooting
- Learn and contribute to CI/CD and pre-release testing improvements
- Help organize release documentation and support data reviews as directed
Benefits
- Health, dental, and vision coverage
- Additional stipend for employee wellness
- 401(k)
- Equity
- 11 company holidays & generous PTO
- Monthly lunches, game nights, holiday celebrations, and offsite events
- Generous parental leave and provide a $10,000 stipend for fertility, adoption, and other family-building benefits
- $2,000 annual learning stipend
- Constant training opportunities, company Lunch and Learns, and access to industry conferences
- Good communication skills and ability to work well with guidance from senior team members
- 0-1 years of professional experience; new grads welcome. Internship, co-op, or academic project experience in software, systems, or test engineering is a plus
- Eagerness to learn software release and test engineering processes, with willingness to follow established procedures closely
- Basic Python scripting ability, from coursework, personal projects, internships, or professional experience
- Basic awareness of CI/CD concepts and workflows (e.g. through coursework or exposure, not necessarily hands-on production experience)
- Comfort working under deadlines while still being precise and thorough
- Strong attention to detail and documentation habits
- Exposure to aerospace, launch vehicle, or other high-reliability/safety-critical systems (coursework, internship, or personal projects count)
- Familiarity with Conda, GitLab CI/CD, Git/version control practices, or artifact repositories
- Interest in or early experience with data analysis, root cause investigation, or quality/release audits
- Exposure to hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing, simulation environments, or systems integration
- Coursework or interest in electrical, systems, or software engineering as applied to physical/hardware systems (not just mobile/cloud-only software)
