Sr. Automation Controls Engineer (Aerospace)

Location: Denver, CO, or Huntsville, AL, United States

Base pay for Colorado applicants: $181,626.00–$254,275.35 annually; other site ranges may differ.

Company

hirify.global develops reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems and builds scalable manufacturing capabilities across its operations organization.

What you will do

• Develop conceptual automated manufacturing equipment with applications engineers and provide controls architecture input through detailed design.
• Design control system architectures covering network topology, I/O distribution, safety systems, and communication protocols.
• Lead the industrial controls and electrical design of bespoke automation systems, including integration of robots, material handling, CNC machines, NDT, assembly, testing, and process tools.
• Develop offline simulations and virtual commissioning to validate control logic, robot paths, cycle times, and system behavior before hardware is available.
• Program, debug, integrate, and commission PLC, HMI, robot, and auxiliary equipment control systems.
• Lead panel fabrication support, field installation, factory and site acceptance testing, documentation, installation, commissioning, and production start-up.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Controls, or a related engineering field.
• At least 6 years of hands-on experience developing and integrating industrial controls and automation systems from scratch, including PLC and HMI programming, control architecture, network topology, I/O distribution, safety systems, and multi-platform communication protocols.
• Broad exposure to industrial automation platforms, including robots, gantries, AGVs, conveyors, CNC machine integration, NDT, assembly, testing, and process tools such as torque, welding, or grinding systems.
• Ability to interpret and review electrical and mechanical drawings.
• Experience designing industrial safety systems with functional safety devices, safety PLCs, and safety-rated circuits.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident with a current Green Card, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Nice to have

• Knowledge of IEC 61131, ANSI B11, NFPA 79, RIA R15.06, IEC 62061, and ISO 13849, including formal risk assessment experience.
• Experience with industrial automation simulation tools such as Plant Simulate, Process Simulate, Visual Components, KUKA.Sim, or RobotStudio for offline programming, virtual commissioning, and production-line simulation.
• Experience with industrial machine vision, including Cognex configuration, custom programming, and machine-learning-based inspection and guidance.
• Experience building, modifying, and troubleshooting electrical control panels.
• Experience using AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, or similar electrical CAD platforms.
• History of delivering custom automated manufacturing systems from concept through production ramp-up.

Culture & Benefits

• Safety, collaboration, inclusion, and technical ownership are emphasized in a hands-on build-and-commission environment.
• Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave, and short- and long-term disability coverage.
• 401(k) with company matching of up to 5%, an Education Support Program, and stock options for regular employees working at least 20 hours per week.
• Up to four weeks of paid time off per year based on scheduled hours and up to 14 company-paid holidays.
• A standard background check is required; additional checks may apply for certain job profiles or military-installation work.