Head of Mechanical Engineering (Aerospace)

Location: Torrance, California, with a planned move to a new facility in Hawthorne, California; applicants must be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) to meet customer and regulatory requirements.

Salary: $220,000–$250,000 base salary per year plus equity.

Company

hirify.global develops modular motion technologies and precision motion-control components for industrial, aerospace, and defense applications.

What you will do

• Own the mechanical engineering function and serve as the final technical decision-maker for mechanical designs across the actuator product line.
• Lead development and integration of precision electromechanical actuators, including motors, geartrains, lead screws, encoders, brakes, bearings, seals, thermal interfaces, and structural housings.
• Lead PDR, CDR, and TRR design reviews and ensure compliance with aerospace and defense requirements.
• Develop qualification and acceptance test programs with requirements-to-test traceability.
• Guide DFM/DFA, supplier and contract manufacturer collaboration, NCRs, production transition, cost reduction, and yield improvement.
• Hire, develop, and retain mechanical engineers while defining team structure, workflows, schedules, and the mechanical technology roadmap.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field.
• 10+ years of mechanical engineering experience, including at least 3 years in a technical leadership or senior engineering role.
• Hands-on experience developing electromechanical actuators or precision mechanisms across the full product lifecycle.
• Working knowledge of DO-160, MIL-STD-810, and formal hardware qualification campaigns.
• Proficiency in strength, fatigue, stiffness, margin-of-safety analysis, hand calculations, and FEA.
• Expertise with 3D CAD platforms such as SolidWorks, CATIA, or NX, configuration management, and ASME Y14.5 GD&T.

Nice to have

• Experience with flight hardware programs for UAVs, launch vehicles, spacecraft, or crewed systems.
• Familiarity with AS9100 quality management systems and MIL-PRF-27369 or similar actuation standards.
• Experience with motor-drive integration, thermal-mechanical co-design, and both R&D and compliance-driven programs.
• Previous experience at a small or scaling aerospace company.

Culture & Benefits

• High autonomy and a lean, impact-oriented operating style.
• Hands-on engineering culture with direct involvement in design and analysis.
• Well-funded company already generating revenue.
• Medical insurance fully covered by the company.
• Life insurance equal to 2x salary, fully covered by the company.
• Flexible PTO, 401(k), financial wellness resources, equity, and other benefits.