Head of Mechanical Engineering (AI Manufacturing)

Location: On-site in Los Angeles, California, United States. U.S. citizenship, nationality, lawful permanent residence, protected individual status, or eligibility to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations is required under ITAR regulations.

Salary: $355,000–$400,000 per year, plus equity.

Company

hirify.global is building autonomous factories that combine AI, advanced software, robotics, and full-stack manufacturing for aerospace and defense production.

What you will do

• Build, lead, and grow the mechanical engineering team, including hiring, leveling, mentoring, and career development.
• Deliver machines, fixtures, end-of-arm tooling, and material-handling systems from concept through build, commissioning, and production run-in.
• Set design standards and lead reviews covering CAD, drawings, GD&T, design for manufacture and assembly, and machine safety.
• Review designs and make technical decisions on fixtures, mechanisms, and cell layouts.
• Decide which equipment to design in-house or purchase, manage equipment budgets, and hold machine builders, vendors, and integrators to required standards.
• Partner with controls, software, manufacturing, and factory operations teams and introduce AI and other new tools into engineering workflows.

Requirements

• 12+ years of experience designing automation equipment, test equipment, or production machinery, including several years leading mechanical engineers.
• Proven experience delivering automation equipment from concept through commissioning on production lines operating around the clock.
• Deep, current mechanical design skills in mechanisms, fixtures, end-of-arm tooling, tolerance stacks, actuator sizing, and machine safety.
• Experience growing engineers and earning the trust of technicians and operators who build and run the designs.
• Experience using AI and other new tools in an engineering workflow and encouraging the team to adopt new ways of working.
• U.S. work authorization or eligibility to obtain the authorizations required for ITAR-regulated work.

Nice to have

• Early mechanical design hire experience at a startup focused on automation or test equipment, with experience helping build the team.
• Systems integrator experience, especially in systems design or concept and quoting teams.
• Experience standardizing equipment across multiple factories or launching equipment for a new factory.
• High-volume manufacturing experience in EV, aerospace, defense, or medical devices.

Culture & Benefits

• On-site work in Los Angeles within a hybrid team of high performers.
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans.
• 401(k).
• Flexible vacation policy.
• Equity.
• Relocation support may be provided in certain situations based on business need.