Senior Mission Lead Systems Engineer (Aerospace)

TL;DR

Senior Mission Lead Systems Engineer (Aerospace): Owning the end-to-end technical success of high-assurance space missions from concept through on-orbit operations with an accent on requirements management and system modeling. Focus on designing high-reliability systems for USG and DoD customers and coordinating cross-functional technical trades to ensure mission success.

Location: San Jose, CA. Applicant must be a U.S. person (citizen, green card holder, refugee, or asylee) or eligible for export control authorization to comply with U.S. Government regulations.

Salary: $142,000 - $208,000

Company

hirify.global is an end-to-end Space Systems Provider that designs, builds, and operates LEO satellite constellations delivering mission-critical Earth Intelligence.

What you will do

• Serve as the ultimate technical authority for designated missions, leading conceptualization, design, and development.
• Translate customer objectives and stakeholder needs into clear, verifiable, and actionable technical requirements.
• Define mission CONOPS and manage critical subsystem budgets including power, data, mass, and pointing/stability.
• Lead design, test readiness, and flight readiness reviews, ensuring alignment with program needs.
• Monitor on-orbit spacecraft and data pipelines to validate mission performance and customer requirements.
• Coordinate and provide technical direction to systems, hardware, software, and operations teams.

Requirements

• B.S. or higher degree in an engineering field with 10+ years of experience in complex system or spacecraft design.
• Demonstrated experience as a technical lead (Chief Engineer or Lead Systems Engineer) for USG, DoD, or IC customers.
• Extensive experience in system modeling, systems analysis, and running simulations.
• Proven history of system integration and delivery of complex systems.
• Experience in formal requirements management for multi-disciplinary projects.
• Must be a U.S. person or eligible to access export controlled information without authorization.

Nice to have

• Experience with USG/IC acquisition programs, standards, and mission assurance.
• Strong understanding of USG/IC contracts and experience supporting proposal development (RFI/RFP).
• Proficiency in Python or Julia and familiarity with software engineering tools (version control, code review).
• Experience with remote sensing instruments (optical, multispectral, RF) and associated data pipelines.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive equity grants for all full-time employees.
• Comprehensive health package including medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401k retirement plan and insurance for life, short-term, and long-term disability.
• Three weeks of paid vacation for new employees, 12 paid holidays, and unlimited sick time.
• Paid parental leave and a commitment to a diverse, equal-opportunity workforce.