Staff Engine Systems Development Engineer (Rocket Engines)

Location: Colorado, USA; requires approximately 15% travel to test and launch sites, with occasional shifted schedules or weekend work for critical milestones.

Hiring range: $164,000–$246,000 USD annually, plus equity.

Company

hirify.global develops rockets, manufacturing systems, and propulsion technologies, including the Terran R launch vehicle.

What you will do

• Drive engine system architecture and CONOPS trades.
• Manage engine interfaces and negotiate requirements to optimize the vehicle.
• Support engine system development across design, production, qualification, and flight.
• Support engine system analysis, simulation, testing, and tool development.
• Lead collaborative engineering projects to completion with minimal oversight.
• Collaborate across technical teams and apply deep technical expertise to system-level propulsion problems.

Requirements

• 8+ years of relevant experience, preferably in complex engineering system development and/or test environments.
• Bachelor’s degree in a science, engineering, technology, or mathematics field.
• Working knowledge of liquid-propellant rocket engines.
• Experience applying engineering fundamentals in fluid mechanics and thermodynamics.
• Clear evidence of ownership, problem-solving skills, and effective collaboration from school or work experience.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver on ambitious schedules, including through unconventional and creative solutions when necessary.

Nice to have

• Working knowledge of fluid components such as valves and instrumentation.
• Working knowledge of engine subsystems such as combustion devices and turbomachinery.

Culture & Benefits

• Autonomy, ownership, bottoms-up decision-making, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Opportunity to influence a fast-growing startup and work on Terran R, its factory, and propulsion systems.
• Competitive salary and equity.
• Generous paid time off and sick leave, parental leave, and an annual learning and development stipend.
• Commitment to equal opportunity, fairness, and reasonable accommodations.