Automation and Controls Engineer II (Aerospace)

Location: On-site in El Segundo, California, United States. The role requires employees to be authorized to work in the U.S. and to qualify as a U.S. person under ITAR requirements.

Salary: $119,543–$152,749 per year, plus potential stock options and/or long-term cash awards.

Company

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

What you will do

• Design, build, maintain, and commission 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 for evolving program requirements.
• Evaluate PLC-based TwinCAT 3 and Linux-based approaches for high-frequency real-time control.
• Design electrical systems, build cabinets, wire panels, and debug hardware across the full system lifecycle.
• 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.
• 2+ years of industry experience in test automation, controls, and/or industrial automation.
• Hands-on experience with EtherCAT, Modbus TCP/RTU, RS-232/485, or similar industrial communication 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 be authorized to work in the United States and qualify as a U.S. person for access to export-controlled technology.

Nice to have

• Advanced EtherCAT expertise, including DC synchronization, ENI configuration, master implementation, or driver-level work.
• Experience with deterministic sub-millisecond control loops, Python orchestration, and custom control frameworks.
• Experience with Grafana, InfluxDB, aerospace testing, spacecraft qualification, TVAC, thermal cycling, or vibration testing.
• Experience with high-pressure gas or fluid systems, propulsion test stands, safety-related controls, or qualification documentation.

Culture & Benefits

• Fast-paced startup environment with end-to-end ownership and shifting priorities.
• Full-time employees receive flexible PTO, 12 paid holidays, and company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Benefits include FSA and employer-matched HSA options, parental leave, wellness reimbursement, and family support programs.
• 401(k) plan with a 6% immediately vested employer match, incentive equity, and cell phone reimbursement.
• Relocation support may be available for new hires.
• Daily lunch, twice-weekly dinner, team events, and complimentary EV charging.