Tooling, Automation & Controls Manager (Manufacturing Automation)

Location: Torrance, California, United States

Company

hirify.global is an early-stage defense company developing and delivering advanced hypersonic missile systems.

What you will do

• Lead a multidisciplinary team covering manufacturing tooling, automation, and industrial controls.
• Oversee precision tooling and fixture design for composite filament winding, propellant casting, avionics integration, and vehicle assembly.
• Architect automated manufacturing cells, robotic systems, motion-control solutions, and safety-rated controls for hazardous and high-volume processes.
• Drive projects from concept and qualification through first-article testing, commissioning, and production handover while managing budgets and schedules.
• Implement MES integration, machine vision, digital twins, predictive maintenance, and real-time process monitoring.
• Manage equipment vendors, procurement, tooling and controls standards, documentation, spare-parts strategies, and engineering talent development.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, mechatronics, automation engineering, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of tooling, automation, and controls engineering experience in complex manufacturing; 10+ years preferred.
• At least 5 years of leadership or people-management experience preferred.
• Expertise with Rockwell, Beckhoff, or Siemens automation platforms; Fanuc, ABB, or KUKA robotics; and motion-control systems.
• Experience with PLC programming, EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, machine vision, safety-rated controls, 3D CAD, EPLAN, AutoCAD Electrical, and simulation tools.
• Ability to meet applicable export-control, classified-information, U.S. Government site, security-clearance, and other government authorization requirements when required.

Nice to have

• Background in aerospace, defense, energetic materials, solid rocket motors, missiles, or hypersonic systems.
• Experience with composite manufacturing, propellant handling, precision electromechanical tooling, and scaling automation from prototype to high-rate production.
• Familiarity with ITAR, ATF, and DoD explosive-safety standards.
• Strong project and program management, executive communication, stakeholder management, and talent-development skills.

Culture & Benefits

• Fast-paced, early-stage environment with significant ownership and direct impact on defense capabilities.
• Focus on safety, innovation, continuous improvement, and high-reliability production.
• Generous benefits package.
• Equal-opportunity workplace with reasonable accommodations available throughout the application and hiring process.