Senior Systems Engineer (Spaceplane)

Location: Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

Company

hirify.global develops sustainable space transportation technologies spanning in-space propulsion, satellite servicing, and reusable spaceplanes.

What you will do

• Take end-to-end ownership of vehicle functions, including functional behaviour, requirements, architecture, interfaces, and verification.
• Drive technical decisions across propulsion, structures, avionics, GNC, software, operations, and certification teams.
• Lead Functional Hazard Assessments and develop system-level safety requirements and mitigations.
• Perform or contribute to Fault Tree Analysis, Common Cause Analysis, safety cases, and certification evidence.
• Develop and lead qualification, environmental testing, and reliability demonstration programmes for critical vehicle functions.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship while supporting vehicle integration, verification, and operational readiness.

Requirements

• Senior-level experience in systems engineering for complex aerospace or other safety-critical systems.
• Experience owning system functions across requirements, architecture, interfaces, and verification.
• Practical experience qualifying and demonstrating the reliability of structural, mechanical, electrical, or avionics systems.
• Experience with Functional Hazard Assessment, Fault Tree Analysis, Common Cause Analysis, or reliability engineering.
• Experience with environmental qualification testing, including test requirements and profiles.
• Experience with flight test, vehicle integration, verification and validation, or highly integrated safety-critical vehicles.

Culture & Benefits

• Hands-on ownership in a fast-moving aerospace development environment.
• Work on a first-of-its-kind vehicle combining rocket performance with aircraft-like reusability.
• Practical engineering culture focused on sound technical judgement and delivery.
• Opportunities to mentor engineers and influence engineering practices across the spaceplane programme.
• Inclusive environment supporting people of diverse backgrounds, identities, and experiences.