Satellite Technical Lead (Aerospace)

TL;DR

Satellite Technical Lead (Aerospace): Leading the end-to-end execution of satellite system development and mission design with an accent on technical coherence, system-level decision making, and engineering leadership. Focus on balancing mission requirements, technical design, schedule, cost, and risk to ensure mission success and business viability.

Location: Hybrid (Tokyo, Japan)

Company

hirify.global is a space exploration company focused on the development of satellite systems and lunar missions.

What you will do

• Own the satellite system across the full lifecycle, from requirements definition to launch and operations readiness.
• Lead system-level architecture decisions for the satellite bus, payload, and ground segment.
• Drive technical trade-off analyses balancing performance, mass, power, cost, and risk.
• Serve as the primary technical authority and decision-maker for project-level engineering topics.
• Develop integrated schedules and lead major project reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and FRR.
• Coordinate and lead cross-functional internal and external engineering teams.

Requirements

• 7+ years of professional experience in satellite or aerospace system development.
• Strong technical expertise in satellite system engineering, AOCS/GNC, RF/communication, or power/thermal/structural systems.
• Experience across requirements definition, design, development, and testing phases.
• English: Business level required for technical discussions, reviews, and documentation.
• Location: Must be based in Tokyo, Japan for a hybrid work arrangement.

Nice to have

• Previous experience as a System Lead, Subsystem Lead, or Technical Project Lead.
• Involvement in launch campaigns and early orbit operations (LEOP).
• Experience with international space projects (e.g., JAXA, ESA, NASA).
• Experience working in startup or new mission development environments.
• Business level proficiency in Japanese.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid work model based in the Tokyo Engineering Office.
• Opportunity for international exposure with overseas business trips throughout the year.
• Focus on technical leadership and system responsibility rather than administrative people management.
• Collaborative environment at the intersection of system engineering and project management.