ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE

As an end-to-end space transportation company, Firefly Aerospace is on a mission to enable our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. Our launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide government and commercial customers with full mission services from low Earth orbit to the surface of the Moon and beyond. As part of our mission to develop cutting-edge technology, we are seeking a skilled Stage Test Manager to join our team and play a vital role in ensuring the success of our next-generation propulsion systems. This position is located at our manufacturing and test facility in Briggs, TX north of Austin, TX.

SUMMARY

Firefly is a new aerospace company, full of creative and talented people, and the engineers in Flight and Test Operations are the where the “Lox hits the TEA-TEB”. If you’re the type of person that wants to know every last detail regarding the operation, function and performance of a rocket, Test and Launch Operations is the place for you.

The Stage Test Manager for this position will support Firefly’s Flight and Test Operations team. This role is responsible for the management of all stage test operations for the Alpha vehicle, as well as supporting subsystem tests for Firefly's new Eclipse vehicle at Firefly’s Testing Site in Briggs, Texas. The Test Operations Team partners with engineers from across the company to test and validate hardware all in the pursuit of making flight worthy components. The Stage test is the final stop for Alpha stages before being sent to a Launch site. This step is critical for validating the functionality for the stage assembly, validating key metrics including: Thrust, Propellant Masses, Press system performance and leak tightness of the stage.

Engineers on this team are responsible for not just partnering with their fellow engineers to hash out plans to test components to their flight-like limits, but also developing the required infrastructure, mechanical, electrical and software, to support these tests. Engineers are expected to be fast on their feet, adaptive and responsive to challenges. They are expected to be in the field, working in hands on and time sensitive applications. Operations Engineers are expected to be self-sufficient, driven and highly motivated engineers up for learning new skills and taking on challenges to excel. As a team leader, you will own all aspects of component testing, including writing, reviewing and running test, scheduling, reporting on weekly progress and metrics and aligning needs with other test and engineering/operations groups.

The stage testing team also supports launch at the Firefly Launch Sites, aiding in the entire process from vehicle installation on the TEL through Static Fire and Launch. Members of the stage testing team has served roles ranging from Launch Pad Responsible Engineer, Vehicle and Ground Controller as well as Launch Conductor and Launch Director. The Stage Test Manager will be expected to support launch campaigns, while handing off responsibility to the launch sites as those sites grow and become self sufficient. Candidate must be available to travel to launch site for 3 week periods, maximum 20% of the year.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Integrated Product Team Manager
  • Manage test stand schedules, balancing needs of multiple programs, while maintaining test stand and supporting needed upgrades
  • Lead team in tracking and development of Key Performance Indicators
  • Run daily stand meetings and escalate progress and blockers as they arise
  • Integrate, instrument and test rocket components using our world class test stands and test software suite
  • Optimize and implement improvements in testing, component workflow, data review and automation
  • Manage stand upgrade and modification plans, schedule & budgets
  • Manage team training (training new operators + developing and improving training plans)
  • Conduct 1:1 with Test engineers and Operators on team as well as Test Tech POC
  • Lead the hiring and recruitment as the team expands
  • Manage performance of team members
• Work daily test stand operations
  • Serve as Test Director or Test Conductor for Stage Test Campaigns
  • Execute test plans and procedures on console, using voice comm systems and data display and control systems
  • Work directly with component engineers to develop and release formal Test Plans
  • Develop test procedures to check out and operate rocket components and subsystems
  • Participate in resolving any issues and non-conformances that arise during operations, and 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 through automation and equipment improvement upgrades
  • 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 new and improve automated scripts that support test operations
  • Develop and execute system validations, activations, upgrades and other tests required to ensure your 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

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• BS in Engineering or related engineering discipline OR 5+ Years in a hardware test operations role
• Works well in a collaborative multidisciplinary environment
• Exceptional comprehension of engineering fundamentals
• Exceptional writing and verbal communication skills
• In depth understand of bipropellant propulsion and stage systems
• Hand's on experience working with fluid and electrical components such as valves, regulators, pumps, and low voltage systems.
• 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 in California, Virginia, and Beyond. (Max, 20%)

Desired

• Experience Leading teams of engineers and/or technicians in a high pressure fast-paced environment
• Direct experience with component testing, launch vehicle testing, or launch operations in either a public, commercial, or academic environment
• Familiarity with
  • Scheduling and planning software (e.g. Microsoft Project, Jira, Odoo, etc.)
  • Consolidating data from multiple sources (e.g. PowerBI, SQL Database Manipulation)
  • 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
• Experience using data analysis tools and numerical methods to solve real world problems. i.e. Python
• Experience automating data processing and report generation
• Independent, driven and able to develop solutions with minimal guidance and oversight
• Ability to perform computations for fluid systems (e.g., pressure drop, valve timing, etc.) for liquids, cryogenic liquids, and gases
• Ability to read and understand 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

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