Senior Propulsion Engineer I

Location: Long Beach, California, United States; work in a U.S. office and ITAR eligibility requirements apply.

Base salary: $115,200–$172,800 USD annually. Total compensation including equity: $135,475–$208,475 USD annually.

Company

hirify.global is an end-to-end space company developing rockets, spacecraft, propulsion systems, and other critical space hardware.

What you will do

• Design, analyze, test, fly, and refly propulsion hardware for the Neutron rocket.
• Own engine subsystems and support the development, testing, and operation of the Archimedes Engine family.
• Develop and execute qualification and acceptance test plans, then review post-test and hotfire data.
• Improve engine designs, evaluation capabilities, reliability, manufacturability, and operational readiness.
• Coordinate priorities and technical plans across engineering teams while resolving competing program needs.
• Work with manufacturing, testing, and vehicle operations teams throughout the engine lifecycle; mentor engineers and resolve operational issues.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in rocket engine development, testing, or operations.
• Strong understanding of fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, cryogenic systems, and rocket engine architecture.
• Familiarity with engine P&IDs, fluid system routing, and hotfire data reviews.
• For U.S. office work, candidates must meet applicable ITAR eligibility requirements, including U.S. citizenship, lawful U.S. permanent residence, qualifying refugee or asylee status, or eligibility to obtain the required authorizations.

Nice to have

• Advanced degree in a fluid-mechanics-heavy field.
• Experience with oxygen-rich staged combustion systems and Methyl/LOX propellants.
• Background in failure analysis, combustion dynamics, turbopump mechanics, or hydraulics.
• Experience with reusable rocket engines, test and launch facility operations, and design, qualification, or production best practices.

Culture & Benefits

• Stock grant and employee stock purchase program with a 15% discount.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage, including HMO, PPO, and a zero-cost HDHP option with HSA contributions.
• Paid vacation and sick time, 11 paid holidays, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, and a 401(k) with company match.
• Onsite fitness centers where available, subsidized EV charging, gym discounts, snacks and beverages, and employee discounts.
• Production-area work may involve prolonged sitting, standing, walking, and computer work, with occasional exposure to moderate noise, dust, and fumes.