Mission Architect (Missile Defense)

Location: Onsite near Denver, Colorado or Long Beach, California. Successful candidates must be located near one of these sites.

Base salary: $160,000–$245,000 for Staff level or $195,000–$300,000 for Principal level, plus equity and benefits.

Company

hirify.global develops autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors for U.S. and allied space-security missions.

What you will do

• Define mission objectives, system requirements, operational concepts, and mission-level technical performance measures.
• Lead system trade studies, performance evaluations, feasibility assessments, and mission architecture decisions.
• Design engagement sequences, intercept analysis, kill-chain and fire-control architectures, and sensor, command-and-control, and interceptor integration.
• Oversee system-of-systems integration, verification planning, end-to-end testing, and resolution of integration challenges.
• Perform orbital mechanics, astrodynamics, parametric, Monte Carlo, reliability, safety, and mission-effectiveness analyses.
• Support pre-flight and post-flight analysis, trajectory reconstruction, anomaly investigations, mission operations, and real-time mission execution.

Requirements

• 12+ years of experience in mission analysis, space operations, or orbital mechanics.
• Strong technical leadership and systems architecture experience.
• Strong understanding of orbital mechanics, spacecraft dynamics, and autonomous space operations.
• Hands-on experience with STK, FreeFlyer, GMAT, or similar mission-analysis tools, plus MATLAB, Python, or C++.
• Experience with mission planning and real-time mission support.
• Must have or be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI or TS/SAP U.S. government security clearance and meet U.S. ITAR eligibility requirements.

Nice to have

• Advanced degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering.
• Active TS/SCI clearance.
• Experience supporting defense or classified space missions.

Culture & Benefits

• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage with HSA/HRA options.
• Flexible time off or accrued PTO, paid holidays, parental leave, and sick leave.
• 401(k) retirement plan, fitness reimbursement, and equity participation.
• Catered lunches and snacks for in-office employees.