Senior Terrestrial Automation and Controls Engineer (Aerospace)

Location: On-site in El Segundo, California, United States

Salary: $140,333–$179,314 per year, plus potential stock options and/or long-term cash awards.

Company

hirify.global develops commercial space infrastructure, including in-orbit pharmaceutical processing systems, reentry capsules, heat shields, and satellite buses.

What you will do

• Design, build, and maintain test systems and ground support equipment for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing.
• Integrate thermal vacuum chambers, ovens, chillers, pressure systems, data acquisition hardware, and precision instrumentation.
• Develop Varda’s internal PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling.
• Contribute to real-time control architecture decisions, including PLC-based TwinCAT 3 and Linux-based approaches.
• Build electrical cabinets, wire panels, and own systems from electrical design through commissioning.
• Partner with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams to deliver reliable test infrastructure.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in test automation, controls, and/or industrial automation.
• Hands-on experience with EtherCAT, Modbus TCP/RTU, RS-232/485, or similar protocols.
• Experience with a modern PLC ecosystem, ideally Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 and structured text under IEC 61131-3.
• Ability to write control software, design electrical panels, wire cabinets, and debug hardware.
• Must work on-site in El Segundo and be authorized to work in the United States as a U.S. person for access to export-controlled technology.

Nice to have

• Advanced EtherCAT, TwinCAT 3, deterministic real-time control, or custom control framework experience.
• Experience with Python orchestration, Grafana, InfluxDB, spacecraft testing, GSE development, TVAC, thermal cycling, or vibration testing.
• Experience with high-pressure gas or fluid systems and propulsion test stands.
• Knowledge of spacecraft qualification standards and safety-related control systems.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time employees receive flexible PTO and 12 paid holidays.
• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, with FSA and employer-matched HSA options.
• Parental leave, family-building support, wellness reimbursement, and sponsored One Medical memberships.
• 401(k) plan with a 6% immediately vested employer match and relocation support if needed.
• Daily lunch, twice-weekly dinner, team events, mission celebrations, and complimentary EV charging.