Aerospace Engineer jobs in California

Relativity Space

Full-time · Long Beach, CA · $90,000 – $136,000

This role involves developing and implementing hardware designs for propellant and fluid systems that power Relativity Space's Terran R rocket, working closely with manufacturing teams to ensure designs are producible and reliable. You'll move designs from concept through production, optimize manufacturing processes, and conduct testing—ideal for an engineer who enjoys hands-on work and solving novel problems in aerospace propulsion.

Listed on Relativity Space’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Boeing

El Segundo, CA · $180,500 – $269,000

This senior role leads the design and validation of satellite mission concepts and simulations for national security space applications. You'll architect end-to-end constellation capabilities, develop advanced image processing and tracking algorithms, and serve as the engineering authority for modeling and analysis across programs.

Listed on Boeing’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Benchmark Space Systems

Full-time · Pleasanton, CA · $160,000 – $210,000

This role involves designing and implementing guidance, navigation, and control algorithms for spacecraft propulsion systems, from concept through hardware testing and validation. It suits experienced control systems engineers who want to work hands-on with real flight software in a fast-paced space technology company.

Listed on Benchmark Space Systems’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Shield AI

Full-time · San Diego, CA · $130,000 – $200,000

Shield AI is building autonomous military aircraft and seeking a senior engineer to design and develop fluid systems for their X-BAT jet-engine VTOL drone, including cooling and thermal management. This role suits someone with substantial aerospace systems experience who can own component design, supplier relationships, and testing across multiple technical areas.

Listed on Shield AI’s careers site · Apply there ↗

CesiumAstro

Full-time · El Segundo, CA · $148,500 – $199,000

CesiumAstro seeks a senior engineer to lead the structural and thermal design of launch vehicle components from concept through flight qualification. This role suits someone with deep aerospace systems expertise who can both solve complex technical problems and mentor junior engineers in a startup setting.

Listed on CesiumAstro’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Relativity Space

Long Beach, CA · $104,000 – $156,000

This role involves designing and managing fluid systems for the Terran R rocket, including propellant, pressurant, and pneumatics architecture from concept through flight. You'll own system designs, conduct thermal and fluid analyses, lead reviews, and validate performance through testing—ideal for someone with hands-on experience in spacecraft or launch vehicle fluid systems who wants to see their work directly shape a functioning rocket.

Listed on Relativity Space’s careers site · Apply there ↗

AeroVironment

Full-time · Moorpark, CA · $154,500 – $247,250

This senior principal role leads the development of flight control systems and guidance, navigation, and control algorithms for unmanned aircraft and robotic systems. It suits experienced aerospace engineers with deep expertise in GN&C, flight testing, and systems integration who are ready to mentor teams and drive technical strategy at a major defense contractor.

Listed on AeroVironment’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Boeing

Full-time · Seal Beach, CA · $165,750 – $224,250

Boeing seeks a senior payload design engineer to lead the continued operational safety program for out-of-production commercial aircraft, overseeing design solutions, regulatory compliance, and technical reviews from their Seal Beach facility. This role suits an experienced aerospace engineer with deep expertise in cabin and cargo interior systems who can work independently and guide design decisions at an executive level.

Listed on Boeing’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Shield AI

Full-time · San Diego, CA · $160,000 – $240,000

Shield AI is hiring a senior structural design engineer to develop components for autonomous aircraft, from concept through production. This role suits experienced aerospace engineers who want hands-on responsibility for flight-critical designs within a defense-tech company building next-generation platforms.

Listed on Shield AI’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Relativity Space

Long Beach, CA · $132,000 – $198,000

This role owns the design and validation of propellant, pressurization, and other fluid systems on Relativity's Terran R rocket, requiring deep expertise in system architecture, thermodynamics, and testing to turn concept into flight-ready hardware.

Listed on Relativity Space’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Boeing

Full-time · Seal Beach, CA · $111,350 – $150,650

Boeing seeks an experienced design engineer to lead safety and compliance projects for aircraft interiors and cabin systems, working with cross-functional teams to develop solutions for out-of-production commercial aircraft programs.

Listed on Boeing’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Boeing

Full-time · El Segundo, CA · $123,000 – $198,750

Millennium Space Systems is hiring a Guidance, Navigation & Controls engineer to lead the GNC subsystem design, analysis, and flight software development for satellite programs, managing technical execution across the full lifecycle from design through on-orbit operations. The role suits experienced aerospace engineers with strong control systems and spacecraft expertise who are ready to take on technical leadership and mentorship responsibilities.

Listed on Boeing’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Relativity Space

Long Beach, CA · $126,000 – $188,000

This role combines aerospace simulation and software engineering to develop and maintain the analysis tools that predict how Relativity's Terran R rocket will perform across customer missions. You'll work across multiple engineering disciplines to optimize trajectories, run complex system simulations, and influence critical vehicle design decisions in a startup where individual contributors drive real programmatic change.

Listed on Relativity Space’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Boeing

Full-time · El Segundo, CA · $119,850 – $176,250

This role manages the assembly, integration, and testing of satellites from design through launch, requiring someone to lead technical teams through complex manufacturing processes and drive efficiency improvements. It suits engineers with aerospace production experience who can bridge design and operations while working rotating shifts in a fast-paced space company.

Listed on Boeing’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Relativity Space

Full-time · Long Beach, CA · $136,000 – $204,000

Lead a team of propulsion analysts responsible for thermal, structural, and dynamic analysis of rocket engine components and assemblies at an early-stage launch company. This role suits experienced engineers who want to shape both technical direction and team culture while working on flight-critical systems.

Listed on Relativity Space’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Boeing

Full-time · El Segundo, CA · $98,600 – $176,250

Design and develop RF communication payloads for small satellites used in national security missions, working across multiple engineering disciplines to deliver flight-ready systems on aggressive timelines. This role suits mid-career electrical engineers with hands-on experience in space RF systems who want to move quickly from concept to orbit.

Listed on Boeing’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Relativity Space

Long Beach, CA · $104,000 – $156,000

This role involves designing and managing composite pressure vessels (COPVs) for a commercial rocket engine program, working across the full lifecycle from design through flight operations. It's suited to engineers with pressure vessel fundamentals who want deep ownership of critical hardware in a fast-paced aerospace environment.

Listed on Relativity Space’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Relativity Space

Full-time · Long Beach, CA · $132,000 – $198,000

You'll lead the design, testing, and vendor management of gas storage systems for a reusable rocket, taking ownership of both near-term solutions and long-term architectural decisions. This role suits engineers with pressure vessel and fluid systems expertise who want to shape critical infrastructure on a vehicle moving from design to flight.

Listed on Relativity Space’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Relativity Space

Full-time · Long Beach, CA · $132,000 – $198,000

Join Relativity Space's propulsion test team to lead engine test campaigns and system analysis for the Terran R rocket. This role suits engineers who thrive in fast-paced startup environments, balancing hands-on test operations with systems engineering and eager to grow rapidly while solving novel technical challenges.

Listed on Relativity Space’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Relativity Space

Long Beach, CA · $132,000 – $198,000

This role leads the dynamics analysis for Relativity's Terran R rocket, owning vibration, shock, and acoustic environments from design through flight. It suits experienced aerospace engineers who can solve multi-disciplinary problems, drive test programs, and mentor junior analysts while working hands-on across hardware and operations.

Listed on Relativity Space’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Relativity Space

Long Beach, CA · $164,000 – $246,000

This role leads the development and maturation of dynamic analysis and loads criteria for Relativity's Terran R rocket, working across propulsion, structures, and operations teams to translate vehicle requirements into robust designs. It suits experienced aerospace engineers who excel at complex multi-disciplinary problem-solving, can mentor others, and thrive in fast-paced environments where technical depth drives hardware decisions.

Listed on Relativity Space’s careers site · Apply there ↗