Senior Staff Engineer, Communications Systems (R5623) (AI/Aerospace)

Location: On-site in Seattle, Washington; San Diego, California; or Dallas, Texas, United States

Salary: $170,000–$260,000 per year; Seattle pay range: $210,000–$320,000 per year

Company

hirify.global is a venture-backed defense technology company developing intelligent systems for autonomous aviation, including Hivemind autonomy software, autonomous aircraft, and simulation technologies.

What you will do

• Lead the development and integration of aircraft data links, encryption, and secure communication architectures.
• Define system requirements and architectures for RF, SATCOM, optical, and software-defined radio communication systems.
• Optimize low-latency, high-bandwidth data transfer and secure connectivity between aircraft, command centers, sensors, and satellite networks.
• Develop AI-driven sensor-fusion algorithms for payload performance in high-threat environments.
• Collaborate with avionics, software, and autonomy teams on secure system integration.
• Validate system performance through simulation, flight testing, and field deployments while supporting DoD compliance.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of related experience in RF communications or mission-systems integration for UAVs or military aircraft.
• Expertise in RF systems, SATCOM, tactical data links such as Link-16 and CDL, and sensor integration.
• Experience with software-defined radio technologies, encrypted data transmission, communications specifications, MIL-STD-1553, and ARINC 429.
• Experience with classified communication protocols and DoD compliance.
• Active Secret clearance required; ability to obtain an S//SAR clearance is desired.

Nice to have

• Experience with AI-enhanced signal processing and sensor fusion for ISR missions.
• Background in low-observable communications architectures and electronic-warfare or RF threat-mitigation techniques.
• Experience supporting DoD or intelligence-community missions.
• Active Top Secret clearance or eligibility to obtain it, and SCI eligibility.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time regular employment with bonus, benefits, and equity.
• Compensation varies according to work location, experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity.
• Offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check.
• Equal opportunity workplace and affirmative action employer.