Principal Manufacturing Engineer - Payloads (Aerospace)

Location: On-site in El Segundo, California, United States. The role requires regular hands-on work with flight hardware and physical ability to lift 25 lbs., bend, stoop, and stand for extended periods. Relocation support may be available for new hires.

Salary: $181,913–$232,444 per year, plus potential stock options and/or long-term cash awards.

Company

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

What you will do

• Own manufacturing and assembly processes for pharmaceutical processing hardware, experiment modules, and customer-furnished payload equipment.
• Develop work instructions, assembly travelers, process specifications, and acceptance test procedures.
• Interface with payload customers and internal design teams to translate requirements and ICD constraints into executable production processes.
• Implement contamination control, cleanliness, and handling protocols for pharmaceutical-grade and precision optical hardware.
• Provide DFM and DFA feedback and lead payload acceptance testing, verification checkouts, inspections, and traceable build records.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions while coordinating payload integration milestones with the vehicle integration team.

Requirements

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience; typically 6–10+ years.
• 6+ years manufacturing or integrating complex electromechanical assemblies, scientific instruments, or payload systems in aerospace, defense, biomedical, or research environments.
• Experience building precision hardware to tight tolerances and exacting cleanliness requirements.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, ICDs, and assembly models; familiarity with GD&T and interface requirement management.
• Experience developing and executing assembly procedures and acceptance test plans for multifunctional hardware.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States and qualify as a U.S. person for access to export-controlled technology.

Nice to have

• M.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Fluid Mechanics, Biomedical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience with spacecraft payloads, scientific instruments, hosted payloads, pharmaceutical or bioprocessing hardware, GMP, or microgravity experiments.
• Experience with ICD management, interface verification, environmental testing, or ISO Class 7 or better cleanroom environments.
• Experience managing payload customer relationships through integration, verification, and launch readiness.

Culture & Benefits

• Regular full-time employment with flexible PTO and 12 paid holidays.
• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance with FSA and employer-matched HSA options.
• 12 weeks of parental leave, family-building benefits, and sponsored One Medical memberships.
• 401(k) plan with a 6% immediately vested employer match and incentive equity.
• Daily lunch, twice-weekly dinner, wellness reimbursement, EV charging, and company events.