Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer (Aerospace)

Location: Auckland, New Zealand; based at the Auckland Production Complex

Company

hirify.global is an end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems for commercial, government, and defence missions.

What you will do

• Command and operate spacecraft across LEO constellations and deep-space exploration missions.
• Design spacecraft operations with automation at the core.
• Develop and test ground and flight software for long-term missions.
• Build operational scripts and configure telemetry and FDIR systems.
• Lead validation using simulation tools, including hardware-in-the-loop and flatsat testing.
• Support spacecraft through integration, testing, launch, and on-orbit operations while driving continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, systems, software, or another engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in space mission design, satellite subsystems, ground systems, or spacecraft operations.
• Experience with Linux systems and software development using Python, C++, or other high-level languages.
• Strong understanding of spacecraft systems, including ADCS, power, communications, C&DH, and thermal systems.
• Knowledge of orbital mechanics, the space environment, and spacecraft dynamics.
• For New Zealand-based candidates, nationality and background checks are required for access to ITAR-regulated equipment and data; eligibility may depend on citizenship or nationality.

Nice to have

• Postgraduate degree in aerospace engineering.
• Experience in spacecraft operations, satellite design, or ground systems.
• Familiarity with Git, CI/CD, cloud tools, and hardware-in-the-loop testing.

Culture & Benefits

• Work on real spacecraft and meaningful commercial, government, and defence missions.
• Collaborate with engineers across propulsion, flight software, GNC, and mission design.
• Operate in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines and multiple priorities.
• Emphasis on teamwork, ownership, continuous innovation, and delivering practical outcomes.