Instrument Development Engineer - Mechanisms (Aerospace)

TL;DR

Instrument Development Engineer - Mechanisms (Aerospace): Designing and owning mechanism subsystems for infrared remote sensing instruments with an accent on DFM/DFA and system-level integration. Focus on optimizing components for thermal vacuum (TVAC) and vibration testing to ensure reliability in LEO environments.

Location: Onsite in Mountain View, CA

Salary: $159,000 - $223,000

Company

hirify.global is an end-to-end Space Systems Provider designing and operating LEO satellite constellations for Earth Intelligence.

What you will do

• Own moving mechanism assemblies, including design, analysis, component sizing, and lifetime testing.
• Lead Design for Manufacturing/Assembly (DFM/DFA) efforts to support volume production.
• Support control algorithm development and tuning in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Execute subsystem and instrument-level environmental testing, including TVAC and vibration.
• Develop best practices, processes, and tools to enhance mechanisms development efficiency.
• Collaborate with systems engineers, AI&T, production teams, and program managers.

Requirements

• B.S, M.S., or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in a multi-disciplinary aerospace hardware environment.
• Experience with precision optical and mechanical metrology equipment (e.g., autocollimators).
• Proficiency in root cause analysis, data analysis, and driving right-sized trade studies.
• Must be a U.S. person (Citizen, Green Card holder, etc.) to comply with ITAR/EAR export regulations.

Nice to have

• Experience with optomechanical subsystem concepts and analysis tools (FEA, Sigfit, Zemax).
• Basic software/scripting skills for data analysis or automation (Python, C/C++).
• Experience working in cleanroom environments.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive equity grants.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401k retirement plan.
• 3 weeks paid vacation, 12 paid holidays, and unlimited sick time.
• Paid parental leave.