Principal Propulsion Test Engineer (Aerospace)

Location: Onsite in Pueblo, Colorado, United States; periodic travel to customer sites or partner facilities up to 15%.

Base salary: $128,000–$160,000 USD annually.

Company

hirify.global is a defense, national security, and space technology company developing mission-critical solutions from ground to space.

What you will do

• Lead a team of 3–8 propulsion test engineers across active motor programs, managing workload, development, and technical quality.
• Own test strategy, resource allocation, schedules, qualification events, and major motor program or facility operations.
• Represent test engineering in integrated product teams, program reviews, and customer or government authority briefings.
• Establish and improve facility test procedures, data standards, safety governance, and test strategy.
• Lead multidisciplinary investigations into anomalous test events and approve test procedures, safety packages, and post-test technical reports.
• Develop facility capability roadmaps, capital investment plans, proposals, and technical level-of-effort estimates.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering with 10 years of progressive rocket motor static fire test experience; or a master’s degree with 8 years; or 14 years of experience in lieu of a degree.
• Prior technical lead, team lead, or supervisory experience in a propulsion or test engineering environment.
• Experience across at least two motor classes: solid, liquid, hybrid, or gas generator.
• Ability to manage test resources against program schedule and cost constraints.
• Familiarity with DoD acquisition standards, range safety regulations, and Acceptance Test Requirements processes.
• Ability to hold and maintain an active DoD Secret security clearance; TS/SCI eligibility is preferred.
• 10 years of experience leading projects or programs of increasing scope and responsibility, including 3 years leading high-performing engineering teams of 3 or more.
• Applicants must be U.S. persons or eligible to obtain the required export authorization for ITAR-controlled information.
• Ability to lift, move, or carry equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.

Nice to have

• Master’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering.
• Experience with DoD program milestone reviews, including PDR, CDR, and TRR, and formal qualification test planning.
• TS/SCI eligibility.

Culture & Benefits

• Mission-driven environment focused on defense, national security, space technology, innovation, and real-world impact.
• Unlimited flexible time off.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and families, with significant company premium contributions.
• 401(k) plan with company matching up to 4%.
• Wellness programs, voluntary benefits, employee support resources, and flexible gym memberships.