Principal M&P Engineer, Metallics (Aerospace)

Location: San Jose, California, United States

Base pay: $219,000–$273,700 per year

Company

hirify.global develops advanced air mobility technologies, including air taxis, unmanned aircraft systems, physical AI solutions, and other technologies for commercial aerospace and defense customers.

What you will do

• Serve as the Materials and Processes Metallics subject matter expert and technical authority for aluminum, titanium, steel, and corrosion-resistant alloys used across aircraft structures, engines, battery components, fittings, and fasteners.
• Develop compliance data, substantiation, internal specifications, test plans, and certification materials for FAA airworthiness requirements; interface with the FAA, DERs, and certification teams.
• Plan and execute metallic material and process qualification programs, including test matrices, conformity, data reviews, reports, and establishment of material strength properties and design values using MMPDS and statistical methods.
• Author material and process specifications, design guidelines, and standards covering heat treatment, surface treatment, plating, shot peening, welding and joining, machining, inspection, and corrosion prevention.
• Support design, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and suppliers through material review board dispositions, nonconformance resolution, first article inspections, special-process approvals, and supplier audits.
• Lead failure analysis and root-cause investigations using fractography, metallography, SEM/EDS, hardness and conductivity testing, and define metallic fatigue and damage-tolerance methodology with the structures team.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field; a Master’s degree or PhD is preferred.
• At least 8 years of aerospace Materials and Processes experience focused on metallic materials and processes, including direct support of metallic structures; 6 years is required with an advanced degree.
• Demonstrated experience leading material and process qualification, specification development, and FAA or equivalent EASA/military certification activities.
• In-depth knowledge of aerospace aluminum 2xxx, 6xxx, and 7xxx series and tempers; titanium including Ti-6Al-4V; precipitation-hardening and corrosion-resistant steels; and low-alloy steels.
• Strong understanding of heat treatment, microstructure-property relationships, fatigue, fracture mechanics, damage tolerance, stress corrosion cracking, and hydrogen embrittlement.
• Working knowledge of heat treatment, anodizing, conversion coating, passivation, plating, shot peening, and welding/joining processes and relevant aerospace specifications.
• Fluency with MMPDS, SAE AMS, ASTM, MIL, and NAS specifications, including galvanic compatibility guidance such as MIL-STD-889.
• Experience with nondestructive testing methods including dye penetrant, magnetic particle, ultrasonic, and eddy current inspection, and with defining acceptance criteria.
• Familiarity with FAA regulations, Advisory Circulars, and Materials and Processes airworthiness requirements covering material and process control, fabrication methods, and material strength properties and design values; hands-on failure-analysis experience with fractography, metallography, and SEM/EDS.

Nice to have

• Experience with new aircraft development and type certification, ideally in eVTOL, general aviation, or rotorcraft.
• Experience with forgings and castings, including casting factors and classification such as AMS 2175.
• Experience with metallic-composite hybrid structures, fastener systems, and bonded or sealed joints.
• Experience conducting supplier audits, establishing or approving NADCAP-accredited special processes, and working with AS9100 quality management systems.
• FAA DER or Designee experience, or experience working directly with Designees and FAA Aircraft Certification Offices.

Culture & Benefits

• Fast-moving, hands-on work on a next-generation electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.
• Opportunity to help build and mature the Materials and Processes metallics function, including laboratory test methods, processes, tools, and mentoring of junior engineers.
• Inclusive and equitable workplace focused on diversity and collaboration.
• Pay-for-performance culture with compensation determined by job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
• Reasonable accommodations are available during the application and hiring process.