Senior Systems Engineer II/Principal (EO/IR Image Analysis)

Location: Tucson, Arizona, United States. The role is based at the Optical Systems site and requires U.S. citizenship due to program requirements. Active Secret or Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility is required.

Company

hirify.global is an end-to-end space company developing rockets, spacecraft, payloads, and critical subsystems for commercial, civil, and national security missions.

What you will do

• Provide quantitative technical guidance, decompose customer requirements, and support EO/IR subsystem execution.
• Develop simulations and models for EO/IR sensor design, prototyping, integration, testing, and performance assessment.
• Design, implement, test, optimize, and deploy advanced exploitation algorithms.
• Guide data collection, analysis, calibration, and characterization experiments for sensors and test equipment.
• Validate sensor models and performance in engineering laboratories and field environments while troubleshooting integration issues.
• Collaborate with firmware, electronics, hardware, software, systems engineering, researchers, project managers, customers, and government stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in physics, optical sciences, science, or another technical discipline.
• U.S. citizenship is required due to program requirements.
• Active Secret or Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility is required.
• 8+ years of professional experience for Senior Systems Engineer II, or 12+ years for Principal Systems Engineer.
• Experience using Python and/or MATLAB for analysis, modeling, simulation, or algorithm development.
• Experience with algorithm design, implementation, analysis, testing, and optimization.

Nice to have

• Master’s degree or PhD in physics, optical sciences, science, or another technical discipline.
• Hands-on experience with electro-optical systems, infrared imaging systems, military systems, or space payloads.
• Knowledge of C++, computer interfacing techniques, and optical tools such as Zemax, Code V, or FRED.
• Experience with EO/IR phenomenology, complex data analysis, space systems, or customer briefings.
• Experience leading others or supporting product development from architecture and requirements through production.

Culture & Benefits

• Work on space, defense, and intelligence missions involving spacecraft, payloads, and optical systems.
• Collaborate in a multidisciplinary environment with researchers and engineering teams.
• Operate in a fast-paced setting focused on innovation, teamwork, tight deadlines, and mission delivery.
• Support travel or off-site work as needed.
• The role may involve prolonged sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.