Launch Engineer - Mechanical Systems

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 Mechanical Engineers on the Launch Team leverage their creative background and expertise to help develop innovative solutions for the application of space systems technology. As an Engineer responsible for launch site ground systems at Firefly’s new launch site in Wallops Island, VA, you will work with a multi-disciplinary collaborative team through all stages of mechanical system design, installation, maintenance, and operations. This includes identifying necessary upgrades, preliminary and detailed design, system sizing, and installation support. You will have ownership of one or more of the following systems: Quick disconnects, hydraulics, pad structural components, transportation and integration equipment, environmental control systems (HVAC), and other systems as required.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead deployments, upgrades, operations, and maintenance activities on launch support systems
• Collaborate with design engineers, technicians, and vendors to drive system upgrades and improve system functionality, operations, and automation
• Lead and support internal design reviews and operations readiness reviews and represent Firefly during external design reviews
• Develop and upgrade launch site equipment, systems, and procedures and partner with local and remote staff to ensure standard design processes across the company
• Lead and support troubleshooting and resolving any issues and non-conformances that arise during testing, operations, and support failure and anomaly investigations, troubleshooting and resolution development
• Responsible for the safe movement of launch vehicle and payload segment to the launch pad
• Responsible for final ground system connections and verifications of Erector Launcher at the pad
• Write and executes procedures to configure the launch pad mechanical and fluids systems for launch operations and system testing
• Write and execute preventative maintenance procedures to ensure mechanical and fluid systems are ready launch operations
• Potential opportunities to perform launch console operations or launch day red team activities
• Support development of company processes, guidelines, and training in test and launch operations
• Team with test site and launch site responsible engineers to optimize launch system designs and operations

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or related engineering discipline.
• 2+ years of hands-on experience with mechanical systems, structural systems, propulsion systems, fluid systems, flight hardware or test operations
• Familiarity with the integration of mechanical and fluid systems
• Familiarity with reading and/or designing P&IDs
• Experience with hazard and risk analysis tools (i.e., FMEA, FMECA, FHA, HAZOP, etc.)
• Able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high pressure fast-paced environment
• Ability to self-motivate and take the initiative to ensure your systems are functional and operating at peak performance
• Ability to adapt to shifting project and/or scope change requirements

Desired

• Familiarity with instrumentation and instrumentation deployment methods
• Familiarity with data acquisition and control methods, and data analysis tools
• Experience with engineering standards and best practices such as ASME, NFPA, NEC, and AFSPCMAN 91-710
• Experience building, troubleshooting or operating complex fluid or mechanical systems

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.