Senior Propulsion Engineer - Hardware and Bus Systems

Location: On-site in El Segundo, California, United States. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and qualify as a U.S. person for access to export-controlled technology.

Salary: $140,333–$179,314 per year, 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, with vehicles and hardware built, integrated, and tested in-house.

What you will do

• Own the propulsion subsystem technical baseline, including P&IDs and system-level documentation.
• Design, analyze, build, test, and operate propulsion hardware and fluid-system components for satellite buses.
• Define propulsion architectures, requirements, roadmaps, and block upgrades for current and future vehicles.
• Produce propulsion performance analyses covering propellant budgets, pressure ladders, component sizing, and structural and thermal limits.
• Develop Python scripts and spreadsheet tools for analysis automation and test-data reduction.
• Lead anomaly investigations, disposition hardware nonconformances, support console operations, and mentor engineers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• 3+ years of hands-on spacecraft or launch-vehicle propulsion or fluid-systems experience; 6+ years is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of pressurized components, tubing, fittings, seals, valves, instrumentation, and propulsion architectures.
• Proficiency reading and authoring P&IDs, using CAD and PLM tools, and executing ground-test or flight operational procedures.
• Experience resolving technical problems and anomaly investigations across organizational boundaries.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States and qualify as a U.S. person under ITAR requirements.

Nice to have

• Experience with Python or spreadsheet-based propulsion analysis automation and 1D fluid modeling tools such as GFSSP or REFPROP.
• Structural analysis experience using ANSYS, NASTRAN, or equivalent FEA tools.
• Experience with GD&T, ASME Y14.5, spacecraft-grade propellants, and cleanliness and safety requirements.
• Test, launch-site, or in-flight operations experience and experience mentoring technical contributors.

Culture & Benefits

• Regular full-time employment with flexible PTO, 12 paid holidays, and parental leave.
• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, with FSA and employer-matched HSA options.
• 401(k) plan with a 6% employer match and incentive equity.
• Relocation support may be available for new hires.
• Daily lunch, twice-weekly dinner, wellness reimbursement, company events, and complimentary EV charging.