Staff Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT) Engineer (Spacecraft)

Location: Full-time onsite position at hirify.global HQ in Long Beach, California, United States

Salary: $164,000–$246,000 USD per year

Company

hirify.global develops rockets and space systems, including the Terran R launch vehicle and a privately funded Mars science mission.

What you will do

• Own spacecraft assembly, integration, verification, and test campaigns from component testing through launch preparation.
• Develop assembly procedures, test plans, acceptance criteria, and verification approaches with systems and discipline leads.
• Plan and lead thermal, vibration, EMI/EMC, functional, and end-to-end integrated spacecraft payload tests.
• Design mechanical and electrical ground support equipment, tooling, test setups, and campaign infrastructure.
• Lead test readiness reviews, execute tests, assess results, and drive discrepancies and failures to root-cause closure.
• Manage hardware configuration, assembly records, test records, and verification evidence through delivery and launch.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, or a related engineering field.
• 7+ years of hands-on experience integrating and testing spacecraft or similarly complex flight hardware.
• Experience leading spacecraft or payload integration and environmental test campaigns, including thermal vacuum and vibration testing.
• Ability to write and execute test plans and procedures, assess test data, and close verification requirements.
• Strong hardware troubleshooting skills and sound technical decision-making under schedule pressure.
• Experience collaborating across hardware, software, and systems engineering teams from development through delivery.

Nice to have

• Spacecraft-level AI&T ownership on a deep-space or one-of-a-kind mission.
• Optical communications, precision pointing, or tightly coupled payload integration experience.
• Electrical ground support equipment, automated test systems, or hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Cleanroom operations, ESD controls, flight hardware handling, or launch campaign support.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive salary and equity.
• Generous paid time off and sick leave.
• Parental leave.
• Annual learning and development stipend.
• Autonomous, cross-functional work on rockets and interplanetary science missions.