Principal Mission Payload Engineer (Aerospace)

Location: Los Angeles, CA, United States

Salary: $175,000–$230,000 per year, plus equity

Company

hirify.global develops high-power satellite platforms for missions ranging from low Earth orbit to deep space, serving commercial and U.S. government customers.

What you will do

• Manage payload integration across proposals, spacecraft design, development, testing, launch, and on-orbit commissioning.
• Act as the primary technical interface for customers and partners, leading technical discussions, design reviews, and verification milestones.
• Define, maintain, and negotiate mechanical, electrical, software, power, and mission interfaces between payloads and satellite bus teams.
• Create and execute payload interface verification and validation plans, including testing strategies and final stakeholder sell-off.
• Coordinate integration with vehicle engineering, avionics, software, propulsion, thermal, and AI&T teams.
• Help train new team members and develop common workflows and tools for Mission Payload Engineering.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in aerospace or space systems involving spacecraft, launch vehicles, airborne systems, or payloads.
• 2+ years of technical project management and/or systems engineering experience.
• Hands-on experience developing, integrating, and testing launch vehicles, spacecraft, or other aerospace systems.
• Strong understanding of mechanical, electrical, software, and power interfaces for satellite payloads.
• Access to ITAR-controlled information requires U.S. person status or eligibility for a federally issued export control license.

Nice to have

• Master’s degree in an engineering discipline.
• Experience working directly with National Security customers.
• 10+ years of aerospace or space industry experience.
• Spacecraft or aerospace integration and test experience, including environmental testing, verification, and troubleshooting.
• Active Top Secret or Top Secret SCI clearance, or willingness to pursue and maintain one.

Culture & Benefits

• Equity in the company.
• Paid time off and paid parental leave.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Life insurance and additional benefits.
• Fast-paced environment with opportunities to contribute to a high-growth Series D-funded company.