Lead Propulsion Manufacturing 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

The Firefly Propulsion Manufacturing Engineering (ME) Team is responsible for the fabrication, integration, test, and delivery of the engines and fluid systems to vehicle and spacecraft programs. The MEs' take profound ownership of vehicle component production processes, from the time the design is released to the delivery of a completed product. Lead Propulsion MEs' are effective communicators, cultural figureheads, and experienced makers, people who can take an idea on paper and turn it into a fully functioning component ready to fly to space. This role is located at our manufacturing and test site in Briggs, TX, north of Cedar Park.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the transition of propulsion hardware from development to production.
• Provide technical guidance, mentorship, and task prioritization for a team of manufacturing engineers.
• End-to-end ownership of the fabrication, assembly, and checkout procedures for propulsion subassemblies and complete engines.
• Own the system-level production strategy for the propulsion components assigned to your team.
• Define, track, and report meaningful team-level metrics that align with performance and production goals.
• Drive structured, documented continuous improvement initiatives that tie to team objectives.
• Participate in recruiting activities, including candidate evaluation and final panel interviews.
• Participate in design reviews and influence design-for-manufacture decisions.
• Develop and maintain robust assembly and integration instructions; partner with technicians to iterate and improve.
• Disposition non-conformances and implement corrective actions to improve product and process reliability.
• Lead investigations of failures; drive root cause analysis and long-term preventive solutions.
• Develop and execute test and checkout procedures for propulsion hardware.
• Act as the voice of your team across program meetings and technical reviews—owning escalations and alignment with company goals.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date manufacturing data (BOMs, routers, WIs, NCRs) within Odoo ERP.
• Serve as an Odoo power user for your team, owning issue resolution and process support.
• Facilitate cross-functional communication with design, test, planning, quality, and operations teams.
• Architect the structure of your team around product, process, or program needs to maximize clarity and efficiency.
• Champion long-term strategic initiatives in your area, including new capabilities, capital investments, and technology roadmaps.
• Lead projects beyond the scope of standard engineering to drive company-wide manufacturing initiatives and innovation.
• Demonstrate strong leadership that guides and motivates your team toward company objectives.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field
• 3+ years of experience working in a Manufacturing Engineer role
• 1+ years of experience of leadership or mentorship experience
• Proven experience with complex assemblies, e.g. production in aerospace/aviation/automotive industries
• Proven experience leading teams of other engineers and support personnel
• Able to read and interpret technical drawings and assembly instructions
• Proven experience with complex troubleshooting
• Proven experience working in dynamic and evolving environments
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to convey methodologies for assembly and troubleshooting
• Strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills – Must be a team player
• Proven experience with tasks requiring extreme attention to detail and prolonged mental concentration
• Ability to thrive in high stakes, stressful, short deadline environments
• Critical thinking and strong decision making ability

Desired

• 2+ years of experience in an aerospace production environment
• Experience with advanced manufacturing techniques (welding, brazing, casting, additive fabrication, forging, spin forming, etc.)
• Experience working with cryogenics and high-pressure pneumatics systems
• Experience with modern manufacturing principles, such as Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, etc.
• Experience with complex system assembly and hands on build experience preferably in space systems or aerospace applications
• Experience with writing assembly procedures or documentation for mechanical, electrical, or structural systems
• Experience writing test plans, procedures and identifying pass/fail criteria on systems.
• Knowledge of data analysis packages (Python/high level Excel) preferred
• Working knowledge of fluid components and 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.