Propulsion Engineer, Structures (Mid)

Location: Los Angeles, California, USA; in-person collaboration at the Playa Vista office.

Company

hirify.global develops and manufactures satellite buses at scale using integrated software, hardware, and manufacturing systems for commercial spacecraft.

What you will do

• Own mechanical designs for propulsion modules, including structures, mounting interfaces, flow controllers, PPUs, thrusters, and related propulsion hardware.
• Design structures to withstand launch loads, vibration, shock, and thermal environments while meeting spacecraft interface requirements.
• Define mechanical, thermal, and structural interfaces between propulsion components, modules, and spacecraft.
• Perform structural analysis using hand calculations and FEA, and make trades across mass, cost, power, performance, manufacturability, and schedule.
• Partner with propulsion, manufacturing, and production teams to integrate hardware, resolve build issues, and improve producibility and yield.
• Create drawings, tolerance stack-ups, fastening and torque specifications, and installation instructions; support build, integration, testing, and anomaly investigations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related field.
• 3+ years of relevant mechanical or aerospace engineering experience involving structural design and hardware integration.
• Strong knowledge of load paths, strength and stiffness, fasteners and joints, tolerance stack-ups, hand calculations, and FEA.
• Experience designing complex hardware for vibration, shock, thermal, and other environmental requirements.
• Proficiency with CAD, engineering drawings, and GD&T, including taking designs through release, build, and test.
• Must be a U.S. Person under ITAR, including a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual.

Nice to have

• Experience with spacecraft propulsion modules, feed systems, or propulsion component integration.
• Experience designing spacecraft or aerospace hardware for serial or high-rate production.
• Familiarity with electric propulsion components and their mechanical, thermal, fluidic, and electrical interfaces.
• Experience with propellant feed routing, cleanliness and contamination control, or environmental qualification testing.
• Experience supporting flight hardware through integration, qualification, launch, or on-orbit operations.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time employees receive equity participation and comprehensive paid benefits.
• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, plus life insurance.
• Paid time off starting at 15 vacation days, 10 paid holidays, and eight weeks of paid parental leave.
• 401(k) plan with employer matching and childcare reimbursement for work-related travel.
• In-person collaboration, catered lunches, office amenities, community events, and equipment for productive work.