Senior Production Engineer (Aerospace)

Location: Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

Company

hirify.global develops sustainable space transportation technologies, including green in-space propulsion systems, satellite servicing capabilities, and reusable rocket-powered spaceplanes.

What you will do

• Develop the long-term production strategy and operating model for manufacturing multiple reusable spaceplanes each year.
• Design and implement scalable manufacturing processes to support the transition from R&D to repeatable production.
• Partner with design engineering to improve manufacturability, production efficiency, and DFMA adoption.
• Identify production bottlenecks and develop strategies to remove manufacturing constraints.
• Establish production planning, scheduling, manufacturing data collection, documentation, work instructions, and visual management systems.
• Collaborate with supply chain and leadership to align organisational change, manufacturing readiness, supplier capability, and operational excellence.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or an equivalent qualification.
• 5+ years of experience transitioning complex engineering organisations or products from R&D to production.
• Demonstrated success scaling manufacturing operations from prototype builds to repeatable production.
• Strong understanding of aerospace or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
• Experience developing production systems, manufacturing strategies, and industrialisation roadmaps.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, DFMA, Value Stream Mapping, continuous improvement, systems thinking, and practical execution.

Nice to have

• Experience in aerospace, aviation, automotive, defence, or other advanced manufacturing industries.

Culture & Benefits

• Work in an inclusive environment where diverse backgrounds, identities, and experiences are valued.
• Collaborate with international teams distributed across the Netherlands, France, New Zealand, and the USA.
• Help shape a production organisation focused on standardisation, repeatability, agility, and operational excellence.