Lead, Launch Mechanical Engineering (Aerospace)

Location: Long Beach, California, United States

Salary: $128,000–$192,000 USD annually

Company

hirify.global develops rockets and launch infrastructure, including the Terran R launch vehicle, to deliver customer payloads to orbit.

What you will do

• Manage a small team of launch mechanical engineers designing mechanisms and tools that interface with the flight vehicle and ground systems.
• Lead the design, construction, testing, and integration of complex mechanical launch-facility systems.
• Balance engineering leadership with individual technical projects and influence launch-system design outcomes.
• Mentor engineers on fundamental and practical engineering practices.
• Recruit, interview, develop training materials, and conduct performance reviews.
• Communicate progress, risks, and team details to leadership.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related field.
• At least 3 years of engineering experience in a test or launch environment.
• Strong fundamentals in structures, mechanical design, and fluid systems.
• Leadership experience including mentorship, communication, conflict resolution, and expectation management.
• Ability to deliver on tight schedules using unconventional and creative engineering solutions when necessary.

Nice to have

• Experience designing, manufacturing, testing, and implementing launch-vehicle interface mechanisms and tooling.
• Familiarity with NASA, DoD, Space Force, and other governing-body standards.
• Knowledge of structural materials and manufacturing processes.
• Experience designing complex fluid systems involving high-pressure gas, cryogenic fluids, flammables, and hydraulics.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive salary and equity.
• Generous paid time off and sick leave.
• Parental leave.
• Annual learning and development stipend.
• Environment emphasizing autonomy, ownership, cross-functional collaboration, creativity, and technical rigor.