Senior Terrestrial Ground Support Equipment Engineer - Automation & Python (Python)

Location: On-site in El Segundo, California, United States

Salary: $140,000–$179,000 annually, plus potential stock options and/or long-term cash awards.

Company

hirify.global develops commercial space infrastructure, including in-orbit pharmaceutical processing systems, reentry capsules, heat shields, satellite buses, and related production and test facilities.

What you will do

• Design, build, maintain, and commission ground support equipment and test systems for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing.
• Integrate thermal vacuum chambers, ovens, chillers, pressure systems, data acquisition hardware, and precision instrumentation.
• Develop hirify.global’s internal PLC framework and Beckhoff EtherCAT tooling.
• Evaluate PLC-based TwinCAT 3 and Linux-based approaches for high-frequency real-time control.
• Design electrical systems, build cabinets, wire panels, and debug hardware across the full stack.
• Partner with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams to deliver reliable test infrastructure.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of industry experience in test automation, controls, and/or industrial automation.
• Hands-on experience with EtherCAT, Modbus TCP/RTU, RS-232/485, or similar industrial communication protocols.
• Experience with a modern PLC ecosystem, ideally Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 and IEC 61131-3 structured text.
• Ability to write control software, design electrical panels, wire cabinets, and debug hardware.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States and qualify as a U.S. person for access to export-controlled technology.

Nice to have

• Experience with Python orchestration, custom control frameworks, deterministic hard real-time loops, or advanced EtherCAT implementation.
• Experience with Grafana, InfluxDB, or similar time-series data acquisition and visualization tools.
• Aerospace, spacecraft testing, GSE, environmental testing, propulsion test stand, or high-pressure fluid-system experience.
• Familiarity with spacecraft qualification standards, safety-related control systems, and risk-reduction solutions.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time employment with flexible PTO and 12 paid holidays.
• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, with FSA and employer-matched HSA options.
• Parental leave, family-building benefits, wellness reimbursement, and sponsored One Medical memberships.
• 401(k) plan with a 6% immediately vested employer match, equity incentives, and relocation support if needed.
• Daily lunch, twice-weekly dinner, team events, happy hours, mission-success celebrations, and complimentary EV charging.