ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE

As an end-to-end responsive space company, Firefly Aerospace is on a mission to enable our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. Our small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles allow us to service the entire lifecycle of government and commercial missions from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. We utilize carbon composite structures, patented propulsion technologies, and common components across our vehicles to iterate quickly, improve reliability, and deliver payloads at a lower cost.

SUMMARY

This mid level position is for the engineer who loves the idea of operating, maintaining, and designing machines purposed with proving out the structural design and manufacturing of cutting-edge space craft. This position is for those who are inclined to work with their hands to solve problems in real time. The most successful people in this role have a solid engineering knowledge foundation and are driven by making a real, physical impact.

Every day is different on Firefly’s Structures Test Team due to having dozens of various test articles to put through their paces. Engineers in this role will oversee the transport, installation, and testing of articles as a part of our cutting-edge test facility. The focus of this position is to apply aerodynamic loads with some cases including cryogenic and pressurization simulants; Structures Test does it all to ensure the mission-ready status of Firefly’s spacecraft, for here on Earth and on our missions to the Moon.

Engineers on this team develop and modify test infrastructure including mechanical, electrical, and software systems. They also work side-by-side with a team of razor-sharp technicians and vehicle engineers to continuously push the limits of what is possible regarding efficiency and quality of the testing environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Integrate, instrument, handle, and test rocket and spacecraft airframes to prove mission-worthiness.

• Optimize and implement improvements in testing, component workflow, data review and automation.

  • Drive test stand efficiency by creating and implementing predictive data analytics.

• Ownership of daily test stand operations

  • Execute test plans and procedures on console, utilizing voice comms, data displays, and digital control systems.

  • Work directly with vehicle structural engineers to develop and release formal Test Plans.

  • Develop test procedures to validate the design and manufacture of airframe spaceflight worthiness.

  • Participate in resolving any issues and non-conformances that arise during operations.

  • Support failure and anomaly investigations.

  • Troubleshooting and resolution development.

  • Analyze and review data to ensure that test stand and test article are operating as expected utilizing numerical data analysis tools to interpret test results.

  • Improve test efficiency by implementing automation and streamlining procedural processes

  • Diagnose & rework small to medium problems on stand involving Fluid, Electrical, and Mechanical systems.

• Plan and implement improvements to the test stand and testing process

  • Develop and execute system validations, activations, upgrades and other tests required to ensure the stand is ready to support testing

  • Work with Ground Support Equipment (GSE) engineers to optimize test and launch systems designs and operation

  • Identify continuous improvement opportunities for performance, reliability, and cost

• Subject Matter Expert for Test Stand Systems

  • Provide mentorship to those with less experience

  • Act as a source of truth for those systems when asked to solve new problems

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• BS in Engineering, Physics, or related engineering discipline

• 4 Years of relevant experience.

• Works well in a collaborative multidisciplinary environment

• Exceptional comprehension of engineering fundamentals

• Exceptional writing and verbal communication skills

• Experience with 3D and 2D CAD software

• Ability to lift 30 pounds and to be on your feet all day when required

• Ability to work on test stands and use standard mechanical and electrical tools

• Willingness to travel to support launch operations. (Max, 25%)

Desired

• MS in Engineering, Physics, or related engineering discipline

• 12 Years of relevant experience.

• Experience with multiple of the following

  • Hydraulic systems; power units, pumps, load cylinders / rams / actuators, proportional control valves, incompressible fluids.

  • Load Cells, Pressure / Temperature sensors, Data Acquisition Systems.

  • Has worked in a development or industrial testing environment: Wind Tunnel, Dyno, Batch Testing, Laboratory experiments.

  • Propulsion testing, preferably with cryogenics

  • Launch Vehicle testing or launch operations

  • Designing test stands and/or test processes

  • Working around or with lifting and transportation hardware, cranes, hoists, on/off road recovery services.

  • Manufacturing or maintenance of automotive, marine, or aerospace systems

  • Close loop control, PID control, PLCs, SCADA systems

• Hands on fabrication

  • Welding / Fabrication / Machining / Circuits

  • Automotive/ATV repair or restoration

  • Good intuition for troubleshooting physical or software problems

• Expert understanding of fluid and combustion fundamentals

• Experience building, troubleshooting or operating fluid and electrical systems

• Ability to read, understand, and write technical drawings, including GD&T and P&IDs

• Independent, driven and able to develop solutions with minimal guidance and oversight

• Able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high pressure fast-paced environment

• Soft skills

  • Technical writing, good communicator, Adaptable to fast changing environments, takes initiative / ownership of projects big and small.

• Expert level knowledge and experience with data acquisition

  • Instrumentation and instrumentation deployment methods

  • Data acquisition and control methods, and data analysis tools

  • Data analysis and processing up to and including custom code development and implementation

Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, educational reimbursement, short term disability, pet Insurance, and flexible PTO options.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Firefly Aerospace, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Firefly is governed based on merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.