Instrumentation & Controls Engineer

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

Firefly Instrumentation/Controls Engineers within the launch group leverage their creative background and expertise to design controls and instrumentation systems used to support integration, test and launch of Firefly vehicles. In this role you will be responsible for evaluating, developing, designing, building, installing and servicing vehicle and ground control systems for the Firefly launch and test team.

The Instrumentation/Controls Engineer will apply knowledge of electronics, electromagnetics, digital communications, and data management systems to ensure the internal and external communication of data is configured in the most effective and reliable way. You will have full ownership of your project from the initial concept through all phases of the design, analysis, implementation and operations of your systems. Rockets don’t fly without your support equipment!

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design, develop, test and introduce the controls, human-machine interface, data acquisition and PLC systems for equipment involving mechanical, electrical, electronic controls and fluid handling systems.
• Generate instrumentation and control system drawing packages for projects. These drawings include Control and I/O diagrams, instrument and control cable schedules, instrument loop diagrams, junction box wiring diagrams, control panel layout and wiring diagrams.
• Obtain and evaluate vendor quotations for all required instrument and electrical equipment to be purchased for projects.
• Create and conduct in-house testing and development of equipment.
• Work with launch and test personnel in performing check outs and commissioning of installed instrument and electrical systems, including the calibration and/or configuration of instrument devices.
• Work with operations team to ensure compliance with all regulatory and safety requirements, proper and timely build of equipment, and cost reduction in design.
• Handle all controls and communications aspects of installation, including pre-installation site surveys, controls installation preparedness, personnel training, engineering support to technicians, and equipment commissioning.
• Design and evaluate small mechanical fixtures for supporting electrical cabinets, raceway, and instruments.
• Perform site checkouts for test and launch operations and support launch and test day as needed.
• Travel to test and launch sites as required to support the overall program.

QUALIFICATIONS

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelors’ degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer engineering, aerospace engineering or related engineering discipline.
• Ability to learn quickly and self-motivate
• Good oral and written communications skills
• Working knowledge of common electrical sensors (thermocouples, RTDs, strain gauges, encoders, etc).

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years of recent experience in a professional setting outside the classroom in control systems for chemical/oil facilities (SCADA), aerospace ground or vehicle control systems.
• Familiarity with ISO, ITU, FCC, IEEE, RCC, NFPA, ANSI, EIA and TIA codes and electrical codes and requirements.
• Ability to assist in building of panels and other electrical hardware based off drawings.
• Experience programming programmable logic controllers, setting up human machine interfaces, motion controllers, signal conditioners, or data acquisition systems.
• Knowledge of basic mechanical design and manufacturing processes including CNC, sheet metal, additive manufacturing, and welding.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams, and communicating effectively between different schools of engineering

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.