HITL Engineer I (Aerospace)

Location: Auckland, New Zealand; office and technical environments with hands-on work in labs, production areas, and launch operations.

Company

hirify.global is an end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems, including the Electron launch vehicle.

What you will do

• Design, operate, maintain, and standardize hardware-in-the-loop systems supporting production, testing, and launch operations.
• Develop automation tools and backend applications in Python to optimize HITL operations.
• Verify the functionality and performance of rocket avionics components with partner teams.
• Operate launch vehicle simulation platforms and capture data from electronic test equipment during mission operations.
• Analyze raw test data against pass/fail criteria and troubleshoot anomaly root causes.
• Create and maintain system diagrams, schematics, interface control documents, procedures, and test and anomaly reports.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechatronics, electronics, computer science, aerospace engineering, or a related field.
• At least one year of engineering experience in hardware or software development.
• Practical Python development experience for backend applications.
• Good theoretical or practical understanding of electronic systems, sensors, signal conditioning, and data acquisition electronics.
• Experience or exposure to designing and implementing test systems for electronics.
• For New Zealand roles, nationality checks and ITAR eligibility are required; eligibility may depend on citizenship and dual-nationality status.

Nice to have

• Experience with HITL, avionics, or software test teams.
• Familiarity with Ethernet, RS485/422/232, CAN, LVDS, SpaceWire, networking, PLCs, relays, and power systems.
• Experience with harness manufacturing, electrical connectors, crimping, soldering, engineering drawings, and complex spacecraft systems.
• Familiarity with C++, Linux, CI/CD, Git, NX, SolidWorks, and Microsoft Suite.
• Experience with technical reviews, quality reporting, test procedure and data review, or mentoring junior engineers.

Culture & Benefits

• Work in a small team supporting meaningful space missions from production through launch.
• Hands-on work with test and flight hardware in office, laboratory, and production environments.
• Work alongside production, Electron, Neutron, vendor, customer, and internal engineering teams.
• Operate in a fast-paced environment focused on reliability, technical rigor, teamwork, and tight deadlines.
• The role may involve extended sitting, standing, walking, computer work, movement between buildings, and occasional exposure to noise, dust, and fumes.