Mechanical Engineer II, Imaging Payloads (Aerospace)

Location: On-site in Denver, Colorado; must be located near Denver or willing to relocate. Must be a US Citizen or hold equivalent work authorization, such as Permanent Resident status, to access controlled US Government information.

Salary: USD 115,000–130,000 per year

Company

hirify.global is a venture-backed aerospace startup designing, building, operating, and selling stratospheric balloon systems for wildfire monitoring, urban mapping, and government applications including DoD and NASA missions.

What you will do

• Own the design, development, integration, and fielding of electro-optical imaging payloads for stratospheric balloon platforms.
• Design ruggedized payload structures, select materials, perform structural analysis, and validate designs against flight loads.
• Develop 2-axis gimbal systems, including structures, motors, gear reductions, and feedback architecture for precise pointing control.
• Design and verify thermal management solutions for temperature extremes and near-vacuum conditions.
• Plan and execute prototype, subsystem, environmental, integration, and flight testing, including thermal cycling, vacuum exposure, and shock qualification.
• Analyze flight data, lead hardware teardowns and failure investigations, maintain engineering documentation, and support payload architecture and production transition.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline; an advanced degree is a plus but not required.
• 2–5 years of experience in mechanical design and integration of electromechanical systems operating in real-world environments.
• Proficiency with CAD software such as OnShape, SolidWorks, or Fusion 360 for complex mechanical systems.
• Strong knowledge of materials and manufacturing processes, including CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, 3D printing, and injection molding.
• Understanding of tolerance analysis, design for manufacturing, and design for assembly, with the ability to create practical, inspectable, and maintainable parts and assemblies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including hand calculations, simulation tools, and systematic hardware troubleshooting.

Nice to have

• Knowledge of optics, optomechanics, or imaging systems.
• Experience in aerospace or satellite development.
• Experience developing mechanisms, motion-control applications, or gimbal systems.
• Experience integrating mechanical systems with electronics and sensors.
• Knowledge of stratospheric or high-altitude conditions and their effects on mechanical systems.
• Experience with cable and wire harness design, Linux, or embedded systems.

Culture & Benefits

• Small, multidisciplinary team culture grounded in candor, inclusion, respect, and empowerment.
• Stock options.
• Medical, vision, and dental coverage.
• Flexible PTO schedule.
• Cell phone bill stipend.