Senior Mechanical Test Engineer, Automation (Aerospace)

Location: On-site in El Segundo, California, United States. Candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S. and qualify as a U.S. person for access to export-controlled technology.

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, satellite buses, and related production and test facilities.

What you will do

• Design, build, maintain, and commission ground support equipment and test systems for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing.
• Develop data acquisition systems, propulsion test stands, fill carts, thermal control systems, PLC cabinets, and gas and liquid systems.
• Integrate mechanical, electrical, fluid, and instrumentation subsystems into cohesive test platforms.
• Own test infrastructure as the Responsible Engineer, including centrifuges, TVAC systems, propulsion stands, flow stands, and torch test stands.
• Partner with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams to deliver production-enabling equipment on aggressive timelines.
• Document systems with accessible procedures and schematics while improving reliability and engineer onboarding.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of industry experience in mechanical design or industrial automation.
• Extensive experience with SolidWorks, NX CAD, or comparable tools.
• Experience with cabinet wiring, PLCs, harnesses, connectors, and Altium or comparable schematic design software.
• Hands-on experience with high-pressure gas or fluid systems and environmental testing, including TVAC, thermal cycling, and vibration testing.
• U.S. work authorization and U.S. person status are required because the role provides access to export-controlled technology.

Nice to have

• Aerospace experience, particularly spacecraft testing or GSE development.
• Familiarity with spacecraft qualification standards and related documentation.
• Experience with safety-related control systems and risk reduction.
• Programming experience in low-level firmware or Python.

Culture & Benefits

• Fast-paced startup environment with shifting priorities and end-to-end ownership.
• Flexible PTO, 12 paid holidays, and 12 weeks of parental leave.
• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance with FSA and employer-matched HSA options.
• 401(k) plan with a 6% employer match, immediately vested, plus incentive equity.
• Relocation support may be available for new hires, along with wellness reimbursement, meals, team events, and complimentary EV charging.