Principal Systems Engineer (Space Vehicle)

Location: Tukwila, WA; hybrid on-site schedule of 3 days per week with significant flexibility for part-time remote work. U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residence, protected individual status, or eligibility to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations is required under ITAR regulations.

Salary: $185,000–$200,000 per year for candidates in the Great Seattle Area, WA.

Company

hirify.global operates a space-based intelligence platform providing satellite imagery, automated analytics, and high-frequency monitoring for government, military, intelligence, and commercial customers.

What you will do

• Lead or support internal and customer-facing systems engineering deliverables across the spacecraft engineering lifecycle.
• Lead system-level trade studies, mission analysis, and architecture development to guide program decisions.
• Define and decompose spacecraft CONOPS into vehicle, subsystem, and component requirements.
• Develop system, subsystem, and component verification and test plans, and support integration, testing, operations, and commissioning activities.
• Drive identification, tracking, and mitigation of system-level risks, issues, and anomalies.
• Represent systems engineering in Integrated Product Teams, support technical reviews, communicate analysis to technical and executive audiences, and oversee component and unit suppliers.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering or a related field; electrical, aerospace, mechanical, or computer science engineering is preferred.
• At least 12 years of experience in the spacecraft or launch vehicle industry.
• Deep understanding of spacecraft and subsystem behaviors and dependencies.
• Strong foundational knowledge across electrical, mechanical, and software engineering.
• Demonstrated expertise developing system requirements, CONOPS, architecture, and verification and validation plans for complex space systems.
• Technical depth in at least one spacecraft subsystem or payload.
• Ability to drive cross-functional efforts and deliver results in fast-paced, schedule-critical environments.
• Excellent communication skills for conveying complex technical concepts to peers, executives, program management, and customers.

Nice to have

• At least six years of experience in satellite design, test, or operations.
• Understanding of spacecraft avionics, the space environment, basic astrodynamics, and spacecraft design considerations involving NASA, MIL-STD, and other relevant standards.
• Experience with satellite operations, launch vehicle interfaces, or commissioning activities.
• Experience with software, modeling, and simulation tools such as Python, MATLAB/Simulink, STK, or similar.
• Experience with requirements tracking tools such as Jama or DOORS.
• Experience with Jira, Confluence, GitLab, or similar tools.
• Experience mentoring junior engineers and shaping engineering processes, methods, or best practices.
• Experience interfacing with suppliers or external partners.

Culture & Benefits

• People-first, customer-focused, collaborative environment with cross-functional work across mechanical, electrical, software, test, operations, and program management teams.
• Medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and AD&D insurance; hirify.global pays 100% of employee-only medical, dental, and vision premiums.
• 15 days of PTO, 11 company holidays, four floating holidays, paid volunteerism leave, and parental leave.
• 401(k) pre-tax and Roth options with employer match, flexible spending accounts, and an employee stock purchase program.
• Professional development, employee assistance, travel assistance, and matching donations programs.