Internship - Test and Launch Operations - Summer 2025

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 engineer for this position will support Firefly’s Flight and Test Operations team. This team is responsible for the operation of all the test stands at Firefly’s Testing Site in Briggs, Texas as well as launch operations at our launch sites, such as Vandenberg, California. 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. Operations engineers partner with engineers from across the company to test and validate hardware all in the pursuit of making flight worthy components. Best of all, they launch the rockets. 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”.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Execute test and launch plans and procedures on console, using voice communication systems and data display and control systems
• Participate in resolving any issues and non-conformances that arise during operations, and support failure and anomaly investigations, troubleshooting and resolution development
• Design and develop automated scripts that support test and launch operations
• Work with test site and launch site responsible engineers to optimize test and launch systems designs and operation
• Identify continuous improvement opportunities for performance, reliability, and cost
• Analyze and review data to ensure that hardware is operating as expected utilizing numerical data analysis tools to interpret test results

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Must be currently enrolled in either a BS or MS program (or a recent graduate) at an accredited four-year university or college.
• Willing to work in a hands-on, constantly evolving environment
• Detail orientated, managing multiple priorities while maintaining focus towards a common goal
• 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

Desired:

• Ability to read and understand technical drawings, including GD&T and P&IDs
• Experience building, troubleshooting or operating fluid systems
• Experience with test plan generation
• Ability to perform computations for fluid systems (e.g., pressure drop, valve timing, etc.) for liquids, cryogenic liquids, and gases
• Independent, driven and able to develop solutions with minimal guidance and oversight
• Works well in a collaborative multidisciplinary environment
• Able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high pressure fast-paced environment
• Familiarity with instrumentation and instrumentation deployment methods
• Familiarity with data acquisition and control methods, and data analysis tools

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.