Lead Propulsion Integration Engineer (Aerospace)

Location: Los Angeles, California, USA. This is a full-time onsite role based at the Playa Vista office with in-person collaboration. Candidates must be U.S. Persons as defined by ITAR.

Company

hirify.global develops satellite buses at scale through software, vertical integration, and hardware designed for manufacturing, supporting missions including Earth observation and communications.

What you will do

• Lead and develop the propulsion module integration team while setting technical standards and execution expectations.
• Own propulsion module architecture across spacecraft platforms, including tank selection, sizing, structures, mounting, feed-system routing, and vehicle interfaces.
• Translate mission and vehicle requirements into flight-ready designs that meet mass, cost, power, structural, environmental, and verification requirements.
• Own spacecraft propellant servicing, including fill and drain operations, ground support equipment, procedures, safety documentation, and range compliance.
• Drive design for manufacturing, integration, test, serviceability, and serial production while partnering with systems, structures, thermal, avionics, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and program teams.
• Support vehicle integration, testing, launch campaigns, anomaly resolution, root-cause investigations, and technical communication with company leadership.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, propulsion engineering, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in spacecraft propulsion, mechanical or fluid systems, propulsion integration, or related hardware development.
• Experience leading engineers as a technical lead, people manager, or both.
• Strong experience with propulsion module and feed-system design, tank sizing and selection, structural integration, fluid routing, component selection, and vehicle-level requirements.
• Hands-on experience taking flight propulsion hardware through design, build, integration, test, launch, and propellant servicing.
• Must be a U.S. Person: U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual under ITAR.

Nice to have

• Master’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, propulsion engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with chemical and electric propulsion systems, including xenon or krypton loading.
• Experience transitioning propulsion modules or feed systems into serial or high-rate production.
• Experience authoring hazardous operations procedures and supporting range approval processes.
• Experience with propellant compatibility, cleanliness, contamination control, subsystem schedules, budgets, and technical risk.

Culture & Benefits

• Equity participation and an opportunity to contribute to a fast-growing aerospace startup.
• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, plus life insurance.
• Paid vacation, paid holidays, parental leave, and childcare reimbursement for work-related travel.
• Competitive 401(k) plan with employer matching.
• Catered lunch, snacks, office equipment, and community activities at the Playa Vista office.