Deputy Chief Engineer, Launch Vehicles

Location: Based at the Cedar Park, Texas headquarters with regular presence at the Production and Test facility in Briggs, Texas, plus travel to launch sites in Vandenberg, California and Wallops Island, Virginia. Approximately 10% travel is required, with higher travel during launch campaigns.

Company

hirify.global is a space and defense technology company developing systems to launch, land, and operate missions from Earth to the Moon and beyond.

What you will do

• Define vehicle-level architecture, capabilities, specifications, operations, and interdisciplinary optimization for the assigned program.
• Lead system-level trades and optimize mass, performance, power, and data budgets.
• Chair vehicle design and milestone reviews while owning the program’s technical risk posture.
• Validate subsystem designs, work instructions, nonconformances, test plans, and test procedures.
• Provide real-time console support during integrated testing and launch operations, resolving live anomalies.
• Coordinate with Engineering, Program Management, Operations, Production, Integration, Quality Assurance, customers, vendors, and program partners throughout the mission lifecycle.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related discipline such as computer science, mathematics, physics, or chemistry.
• At least 5 years of hands-on engineering experience in the design, analysis, testing, or operation of launch vehicle or spacecraft systems.
• Strong understanding of interdisciplinary system interactions and engineering fundamentals.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, organization, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with aerospace engineering, vehicle-level configuration, risk management, change management, test operations, and anomaly resolution is preferred.
• Must meet U.S. Government export-control requirements under ITAR: U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residence, protected individual status, or eligibility to obtain the required U.S. Department of State authorizations.

Nice to have

• Master’s or PhD in engineering or a related discipline.
• At least 8 years of professional hands-on aerospace engineering experience.
• Experience as the primary technical authority across a complete launch service lifecycle.
• Knowledge of Range Safety, AS9100, SMC Standards, aerospace manufacturing processes, materials, and specifications.
• Experience with Confluence, Jira, Bitbucket, Teamcenter, Epsilon3, or Odoo; TS/SCI clearance or ability to obtain one.

Culture & Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision plans with low plan deductibles.
• Parental leave and short-term disability coverage.
• Educational reimbursement.
• Flexible paid time off options.
• Technical mentorship and participation in the Chief Engineering training pipeline.