Propulsion Engineer (Spacecraft Fluids)

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. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space.

SUMMARY

The Propulsion Systems team at Firefly is integrated within the Propulsion and Fluids department. Our team is responsible for all fluid subsystems across our launch vehicles and spacecraft. In this role you are challenged with designing and integrating an efficient propulsion system in a highly mass critical spacecraft. You will work across the full lifecycle of hardware, including requirements definition, design, analysis, development, test, and qualification of our spacecraft fluid systems. Your job will span CAD work of the system, supply chain management of your vendors, working in the cleanroom integrating the system, propellant loading, participating in the in-space operations and much more! You will take profound ownership of your projects, and will collaborate with other product groups (structures, fluid systems, avionics, vehicle/spacecraft systems) to make critical decisions. We are looking for someone who’s a self-starter, enjoys questioning the status quo, and working in a dynamic and cross-disciplinary team.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own spacecraft fluid systems requirements and design from start-to-finish
• Develop new and innovative design concepts for propulsion integration and operations that reduce complexity and maximize reliability within budget
• Assist in the development of manufacturing, integration, and test processes, including work instructions, test procedures, development testing, and initial build support
• Act as the primary point of contact for design, analysis, and operations of spacecraft fluid systems
• Coordinate and execute development, qualification, and acceptance testing of flight hardware
• Execute design for manufacturability changes to enhance production efficiency and vehicle reliability
• Identify system risks and conduct corresponding trade studies to ensure successful vehicle operation
• Drive development of automation and test data analysis tools
• Sit on console to provide launch and test operations support
• Develop lean spacecraft test and launch processes for fluid systems and assist the launch and test teams with troubleshooting during operations

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s Degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or equivalent
• 3+ years of hands-on experience designing, developing, and operating fluid systems
• Thorough understanding of fluid dynamics and thermodynamics
• Solid understanding of fluid components such as valves, regulators, pressure transducers, tubing, tanks, pressurized hardware, seals, and instrumentation
• Experience with fluid system subcomponent or pressurized component development, design, or testing (such as valves, regulators, piping systems, pumps, etc..)
• Working knowledge of manufacturing, fabrication, integration & quality control relevant to fluid components (such as machining, inspection, assembly, testing, etc.)
• Demonstrated ability to do clean sheet designs of pressurization systems, propellant systems, or other complex multidisciplinary systems
• Understanding of P&IDs, fluid system sizing, fluid component and instrumentation selection, and pressurized system design
• Experience using fluids analysis tools such as REFPROP, GFSSP or other computer-based fluid dynamic modeling
• Programming experience and ability to write programs for data processing and vehicle modeling
• Proficient with 3D & 2D CAD software packages such as Siemens NX

Desired

• Advanced degree in mechanical, aerospace, or equivalent field
• Experience with In-space propulsion systems, preferably hypergolic bi-propellant
• Experience with liquid rocket engines or systems
• Experience in aerospace flight production programs
• Experience with thermal vacuum or random vibration testing
• Proven experience in working with data acquisition systems and test instrumentation including pressure transducers, thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), flow meters, load cells, and accelerometers
• Familiarity with some or all of the following software packages: Python, LabVIEW, GFSSP, Winplot, or other control, data acquisition, and reduction software
• History of developing solutions with partially defined requirements and changing criteria

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, 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.