Team Lead - Electron Vehicle Development (Aerospace)

Location: Auckland, New Zealand. Domestic and international travel may be required. For New Zealand office roles, pre-employment background and nationality checks apply because the position involves access to equipment and data regulated by U.S. ITAR.

Company

hirify.global is an end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems.

What you will do

• Lead day-to-day delivery of Electron vehicle engineering projects across structures, mechanisms, and fluids systems.
• Act as subject matter expert and quality approver for engineering changes, contribute to design reviews, and ensure compliance with internal and external standards.
• Analyse and resolve manufacturing discrepancies and non-conformances, reduce quality defects, and implement risk mitigations for future vehicles.
• Lead risk reduction, cost saving, performance improvement, and engineer-to-order projects across team boundaries.
• Prioritise development projects, interface with Program Management and Production, and build the team's strategic plan.
• Lead, coach, and develop engineers while providing visibility into status, blockers, and required decisions; act as deputy to the Electron Engineering Manager when needed.

Requirements

• Degree in aerospace, mechanical, or mechatronic engineering, or an equivalent qualification.
• 5+ years of experience developing, testing, or analysing mechanical systems.
• Strong technical ability in at least one mechanical engineering domain: materials, structures, mechanisms, or fluids and pneumatics systems.
• Strong understanding of signal acquisition and measurement, including error and accuracy.
• Sound analytical skills and the ability to think at a systems level.
• Good hands-on engineering skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to clearly convey technical understanding.
• Strong leadership ability with a proven record of delivering results.
• Ownership mentality, ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines, adaptability when priorities change, and the ability to balance speed with engineering quality and rigour.
• Willingness to perform any work needed for mission success, maintain an approachable and positive mindset, and step in as deputy for the Engineering Manager for any required period.

Nice to have

• Experience leading and developing a team of engineers.
• Experience as a quality approver or subject matter expert for engineering change.
• Strong GD&T knowledge and a record of right-first-time design.
• Experience resolving non-conformances in a production environment.
• Experience leading cost-saving initiatives with measurable return.
• Experience building strategic plans and presenting metrics that guide business decisions.
• Experience driving cross-functional projects and resolving conflict through influence and communication.

Culture & Benefits

• Hands-on work on real rocket, spacecraft, and critical subsystem hardware.
• Fast-paced environment focused on meaningful space missions, relentless innovation, teamwork, and delivery.
• Collaborative culture built around supporting colleagues, checking egos, and contributing across tasks.
• Work involves tight deadlines, changing priorities, and balancing speed with appropriate engineering rigour.
• Background and nationality checks are conducted before employment offers for New Zealand office roles.