Distinguished Astronomical Instrument Engineer

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

US base salary: $75,000–$220,000 per year

Company

hirify.global is an independent, nonprofit research and development company working on defense, space exploration, biomedical engineering, and other national challenges.

What you will do

• Lead large, technically diverse hardware instrument projects and contribute to large-scale astronomical instrumentation proposals and business capture.
• Formulate hardware instrument solutions and help customers define requirements for complex technical programs.
• Conceptualize, design, model, and test novel observing instruments, experiments, and experimental hardware.
• Collaborate on prototype and production precision hardware and integrate instruments into larger systems.
• Prepare and present technical documents, reports, and testing results.
• Build, train, lead, and mentor engineering teams while managing external business and vendor relationships.

Requirements

• 15+ years of experience in hardware instrument engineering or a related field.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, or Computer Engineering.
• Deep experience in astronomy, optical engineering, optomechanics, or astrophysics, including hands-on work with optics-based celestial imaging instruments and astronomy-based data reduction and analysis.
• Expertise in hardware instrument device development and broad knowledge across related technical disciplines.
• Understanding of instrument design, development, application, and precision hardware fabrication processes.
• Strong applied mathematics, physics, analytical, problem-solving, organizational, communication, and attention-to-detail skills.
• Proficiency with modeling and simulation tools such as MATLAB, CAD, FEA, or other relevant design and analysis tools.
• Proven achievement in engineering excellence, proposal development and business capture, external business and vendor management, technical directorship, and team leadership and mentorship.
• Selected applicants must obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

Nice to have

• Master’s or PhD degree.
• Existing security clearance.

Culture & Benefits

• Collaborative, multidisciplinary R&D environment focused on practical solutions to national challenges.
• Workplace flexibility programs supporting work-life balance.
• Employee clubs, health and finance workshops, off-site social events, and discounts to local museums and cultural activities.
• Employment is full time.