Senior Mission Integration Engineer (Space Vehicle Design)

Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA; in-person work at the Playa Vista office

Company

hirify.global manufactures satellite buses at scale through software, vertical integration, and hardware designed for manufacturing, supporting missions such as Earth observation and communications.

What you will do

• Define end-to-end mission architectures covering spacecraft, launch vehicles, ground systems, and operations.
• Lead mission analysis, including orbital mechanics, trajectory planning, deployment strategies, and technical feasibility studies.
• Act as the primary technical liaison with customers and lead technical discussions in proposals, design reviews, and status meetings.
• Coordinate electrical, mechanical, software, operations, business development, and external partner teams to resolve interfaces and manage mission requirements.
• Develop system-level documentation and technical budgets covering power, mass, data, pointing, and other mission constraints.
• Plan and execute spacecraft integration, verification, validation, final systems testing, launch-site checkouts, and launch rehearsals.

Requirements

• U.S. Person status or eligibility to obtain required U.S. export authorizations is required because the role involves access to ITAR- and EAR-controlled data.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in aerospace, mechanical, electrical engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience with complex hardware systems, spacecraft, or technical capture management.
• Experience in satellite manufacturing or related aerospace, defense, or high-tech industries.
• Strong knowledge of space systems, launch vehicle mechanics, orbital dynamics, and mission operations.
• Experience with mission analysis tools such as Python, MATLAB, STK, FreeFlyer, or GMAT, plus cross-functional coordination and technical documentation.

Nice to have

• Spacecraft, launch vehicle, payload, CubeSat, small satellite, or rideshare mission integration experience.
• Experience with prime contractors or government entities.
• Familiarity with flight software, embedded systems, and CCSDS, S-band, or X-band communications protocols.

Culture & Benefits

• Fast-growing startup environment with substantial funding and equity participation.
• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, plus life insurance.
• Paid vacation, holidays, parental leave, and childcare reimbursement for work-related travel.
• 401(k) plan with employer matching.
• In-person collaboration at the Playa Vista office, with catered meals, office events, and workplace equipment.