Mission Architect, Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (Aerospace)

Location: Successful candidates must be located near Denver or Long Beach, United States. The role requires eligibility to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI or TS/SAP U.S. government security clearance and authorization under ITAR regulations.

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 space superiority and space domain awareness.

What you will do

• Define mission objectives, system requirements, operational concepts, and mission-level technical direction with customers and internal teams.
• Lead system trade studies, performance evaluations, feasibility assessments, and mission architecture decisions.
• Design, simulate, and analyze rendezvous and proximity operations trajectories and optimize spacecraft maneuvers for fuel efficiency, timing, and risk.
• Oversee system integration, verification planning, end-to-end testing, and resolution of integration challenges.
• Apply astrodynamics, orbit propagation, orbit determination, geometric orbit analysis, Monte Carlo studies, and parametric modeling.
• Support pre-flight and post-flight analysis, anomaly investigations, mission readiness, and real-time mission execution.

Requirements

• 12+ years of experience in mission analysis, space operations, or orbital mechanics.
• Strong technical leadership, systems architecture, orbital mechanics, spacecraft dynamics, and autonomous space operations expertise.
• Demonstrated experience designing rendezvous and proximity operations missions and supporting spacecraft 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

• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage with HSA/HRA options.
• Flexible Time Off for exempt employees or up to 25 accrued PTO days for non-exempt employees, plus 12 paid holidays.
• Parental leave, sick leave, 401(k), fitness reimbursement, and equity participation.
• Catered lunches and snacks for in-office employees.