Mechanical Engineer (Payload Module Jettison Systems)

Location: Kent, Washington, United States; onsite role. The position requires authorization to access ITAR-controlled technology and technical data.

Salary: $109,725–$148,470 for Level 2 or $129,150–$193,620 for Level 3.

Company

hirify.global is developing Nova, a fully and rapidly reusable launch vehicle designed for daily flight, lower launch costs, higher availability, and improved reliability.

What you will do

• Own the payload fairing jettison system from requirements definition and analysis through verification, vehicle integration, flight operations, refurbishment, and reuse.
• Develop jettison dynamics, clearance, dispersion, loads, and margin analyses, and correlate results with test data.
• Design, analyze, procure, qualify, and integrate pneumatics, actuators, and mechanisms.
• Create CAD models and manufacturing drawings with GD&T, and work with machinists, technicians, and suppliers to build hardware.
• Plan and run integrated jettison tests from development through qualification, troubleshoot failures, and drive corrective actions.
• Lead design reviews and evaluate next-generation separation and deployment architectures for reusable fairings, payload adapters, and dispensers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience designing, building, and testing hardware.
• Strong mechanical engineering fundamentals, including statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics.
• Experience designing, analyzing, and testing pneumatics, actuators, or mechanisms; proficiency with 3D CAD and detailed manufacturing drawings.
• Working knowledge of GD&T per ASME Y14.5, structural analysis using hand calculations and FEA, and hands-on test planning, instrumentation, execution, and data correlation.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual eligible to work with ITAR-controlled technology; U.S. work authorization and employment verification are required.

Nice to have

• Experience with multibody dynamics, Monte Carlo dispersion analysis, NASA-STD-5017, or AIAA S-114.
• Launch vehicle separation systems experience, including fairing, stage, or payload separation.
• Experience with NX, ANSYS, Femap, reusable hardware, launch vehicle environments, or separation electrical systems.
• Experience taking hardware from first principles through flight in a startup or rapid development environment.

Culture & Benefits

• Mission-driven, collaborative environment with ownership of critical hardware systems.
• Stock options for regular, full-time employees.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus company-paid life and disability insurance.
• 401(k) plan with employer match, four weeks of paid time off, holidays, and paid family or parental leave.
• On-site gym or monthly wellness stipend and dog-friendly offices.