Senior Staff Engineer, Communications Systems (Aerospace)

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

Salary: $170,000–$250,000 per year, plus bonus, benefits, and equity for regular employees

Company

hirify.global is a venture-backed defense-tech company developing intelligent autonomy systems, autonomous aircraft, simulation technologies, and AI-enabled navigation for military and civilian applications.

What you will do

• Lead the development and integration of data links, encryption, and secure communications architectures for a next-generation autonomous aircraft.
• Define system requirements and architectures for RF, SATCOM, optical, and software-defined radio communication systems.
• Optimize low-latency, high-bandwidth data transmission and 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, autonomy, compliance, and DoD stakeholder teams.
• Validate communications performance through simulation, flight testing, and field deployments.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of 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, sensor integration, and secure encrypted data transmission.
• Experience with software-defined radio technologies, communications subsystem specifications, MIL-STD-1553, and ARINC 429.
• Experience with classified communication protocols and DoD compliance.
• Active Secret security clearance required; ability to obtain S//SAR clearance desired. Clearance and background-check requirements apply.

Nice to have

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

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time regular employees receive pay within the listed range, bonus, benefits, and equity.
• Temporary employees receive the listed pay and a temporary benefits package after 60 days.
• Compensation varies based on skills, experience, certifications, and work location.
• Work involves collaboration across defense, avionics, software, autonomy, and compliance functions.