Senior Mechanical Engineer (Propulsion)

Location: Los Angeles, California, United States. The role requires compliance with U.S. ITAR export controls; the hired candidate must be a U.S. person or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export-control license.

Base salary: $140,000–$175,000 annually, plus equity.

Company

hirify.global is a Series C space startup developing and mass-producing high-power satellite platforms for missions from low Earth orbit to deep space.

What you will do

• Own the mechanical design of propulsion modules, thruster components, propellant management systems, avionics boxes, secondary structures, and potentially tanks.
• Take propulsion hardware through requirements definition, concept development, analysis, prototyping, production, qualification, and flight demonstration.
• Create 3D models, fully dimensioned drawings, and interface control documents.
• Analyze test data, troubleshoot hardware, iterate designs, and make critical go/no-go performance decisions.
• Develop and execute component- and system-level test plans.
• Manage propulsion vendors and suppliers while maintaining subsystem delivery schedules through development and production.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in mechanical and/or electromechanical design and analysis.
• Experience with CAD or FEA software and practical application of GD&T.
• Proficiency in mechanical design, materials, thermodynamics, and fluids.
• Ability to personally design, build, test, troubleshoot, and iterate hardware from a blank canvas.
• Must be a U.S. person under ITAR or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export-control license.

Nice to have

• Experience with advanced propulsion technologies, in-space propulsion, and propulsion-system integration.
• Experience designing, building, and testing aerospace mechanical assemblies for satellites, payloads, launch vehicles, aircraft, or propulsion systems.
• Experience developing and qualifying high- and low-pressure fluidic components, feed systems, or pressurized tanks.
• Understanding of structural analysis and failure modes in complex mechanical systems operating in space.
• Experience with production tooling or product design in prototype or high-volume environments.

Culture & Benefits

• Work on high-power satellite platforms and electric propulsion systems for missions extending from LEO to deep space.
• Paid time off, medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Life insurance and paid parental leave.
• Company equity and additional benefits.
• Non-traditional career paths and varied engineering experience are encouraged.