Staff Materials Engineer (Inorganics)

Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA; in-person work at the Playa Vista office. U.S. Persons status or the ability to obtain required export authorizations is required for access to export-controlled data.

Company

hirify.global manufactures satellite buses at scale through software, vertical integration, and hardware designed for manufacturing.

What you will do

• Serve as the technical focal for metallic materials and associated processes used in spacecraft, propulsion systems, mechanisms, structures, avionics hardware, and flight-support equipment.
• Own material selection, qualification, process requirements, design guidance, supplier controls, and technical disposition for aerospace metallics.
• Develop material and process specifications covering procurement, heat treatment, welding, brazing, machining, forming, coatings, finishing, additive manufacturing, and inspection.
• Maintain the Approved Metallic Materials and Processes List, including alloys, product forms, suppliers, processes, design limitations, and qualification status.
• Coordinate materials testing and laboratory activities, including metallography, hardness, tensile testing, and NDT/NDI; interpret results and support disposition.
• Support design reviews, supplier qualification, failure analyses, non-conformance investigations, corrective actions, configuration control, and cross-functional technical communication.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, materials engineering, physics, aerospace engineering, or a relevant engineering discipline.
• 10+ years of industry experience demonstrating a strong foundation in materials science and engineering principles.
• Engineering experience qualifying typical aerospace metallics, including aluminum and titanium alloys, specialty aerospace alloys, castings, forgings, extrusions, sheet and plate, bar and tubing, and additively manufactured metallic hardware.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Must qualify as a U.S. Person or be able to obtain applicable U.S. export authorizations under ITAR/EAR requirements.

Nice to have

• Master’s degree in materials science, chemical engineering, metallurgy, polymers, mechanical engineering, or a related discipline.
• Materials engineering experience in aerospace, defense, or high-reliability manufacturing development lifecycles.
• Deep understanding of aluminum, composites, stainless steels, adhesives, and thermal materials.
• Familiarity with welding, heat treatment, and plating.
• Knowledge of fracture mechanics, corrosion control, fluid compatibility, statistics, and failure analysis.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time employment with equity or stock options and a competitive 401(k) plan with employer matching.
• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, plus $100,000 life insurance.
• Paid time off starting at 15 vacation days, growing to 20+ days annually, plus 10 paid holidays.
• Eight weeks of paid parental leave and childcare reimbursement of up to $350 per day for work-related travel.
• In-person collaboration at the Playa Vista office, with catered lunch, snacks, office socials, and community activities.