Principal Systems Engineer (Aerospace)

Location: Huntington Beach, California, United States; on-site

Salary: $180,000–$250,000 per year, plus equity

Company

hirify.global is a rapidly growing defense technology startup developing next-generation autonomous and decentralized defense platforms.

What you will do

• Own the architecture, development, validation, configuration management, and documentation of integrated aircraft simulations.
• Use modeling and simulation to guide aircraft configuration, subsystem sizing, requirements, and design trade studies.
• Integrate aerodynamic, structural, propulsion, electrical, mass-properties, controls, and mission-performance models.
• Lead multidisciplinary design optimization, sensitivity analyses, uncertainty assessment, and risk analysis.
• Correlate simulation results with component, ground, and flight-test data across representative mission profiles.
• Present engineering recommendations to technical leadership and stakeholders, support design and certification reviews, and mentor engineers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, systems engineering, or a related discipline.
• Significant experience developing or applying aircraft-level models and simulations.
• Strong understanding of aircraft performance, flight mechanics, dynamics, and multidisciplinary system interactions.
• Experience integrating models across aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, electrical, controls, or thermal disciplines.
• Proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink, Python, C/C++, or equivalent simulation platforms.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States; employment may require eligibility to access U.S. export-controlled information under EAR and ITAR without export-license sponsorship.

Nice to have

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in aerospace engineering, systems engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with electric, hybrid-electric, autonomous, or advanced aircraft.
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop, software-in-the-loop, or pilot-in-the-loop simulation.
• Familiarity with model-based systems engineering, SysML, CFD, finite-element analysis, propulsion-cycle modeling, or digital twins.
• Experience supporting aircraft certification, safety analysis, or flight-test programs.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive base compensation with performance-based incentives and equity participation.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement savings plans and paid time off.
• Funding for continuing education, training, and professional development.
• Fast-paced startup environment focused on defense technology and national security.