Automation and Controls Engineer II (Aerospace)

Location: On-site in El Segundo, California, United States

Salary: $119,543–$152,749 per year for Engineer II, plus potential stock options and/or long-term cash awards.

Company

hirify.global develops commercial space infrastructure, including in-orbit pharmaceutical processing systems, reentry capsules, heat shields, and satellite buses.

What you will do

• Design, build, maintain, and commission test systems and ground support equipment for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing.
• Integrate thermal vacuum chambers, ovens, chillers, pressure systems, data acquisition hardware, and precision instrumentation.
• Develop Varda’s internal PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling.
• Evaluate PLC-based TwinCAT 3 and Linux-based approaches for high-frequency real-time control.
• Design electrical systems, build cabinets, wire panels, debug hardware, and own systems through commissioning.
• Partner with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams while establishing maintainable engineering standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical field.
• At least 2 years of industry experience in test automation, controls, and/or industrial automation.
• Experience integrating industrial hardware using EtherCAT, Modbus TCP/RTU, RS-232/485, or similar protocols.
• Experience with a modern PLC ecosystem, ideally Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 and IEC 61131-3 structured text.
• Ability to design electrical panels, wire cabinets, debug hardware, and write control software.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States and qualify as a U.S. person for access to export-controlled technology.

Nice to have

• Advanced EtherCAT, TwinCAT 3, structured text, deterministic real-time control, or sub-millisecond control-loop experience.
• Python orchestration, custom control frameworks, Grafana, InfluxDB, or other time-series data tools.
• Aerospace, spacecraft testing, GSE, environmental testing, propulsion test stand, or high-pressure gas and fluid systems experience.
• Experience with spacecraft qualification standards, safety-related control systems, and risk reduction.

Culture & Benefits

• Regular full-time employment with flexible paid time off and 12 paid holidays.
• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, with FSA and employer-matched HSA options.
• Parental leave, family-building and wellness benefits, and sponsored One Medical memberships.
• 401(k) plan with a 6% immediately vested employer match, incentive equity, and phone reimbursement.
• Relocation support may be available for new hires, with meals, team events, and complimentary EV charging.