Senior Test 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. Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space. This position is located at our manufacturing and test facility in Briggs, TX north of Austin, TX.

SUMMARY

This Senior level position is for the engineer looking to get in on the ground floor of spacecraft and launch vehicle testing. If you're the type who used to take apart the family lawnmower "just to see how it works", the this position is for you. Test engineers can expect to work on Firefly's Component, Structures, Engines or Stage Test Stands. Senior level engineers are expected to organize higher level goals, direction and opportunities for the stands and teams they are assigned to.

Test Engineers partner with responsible engineers from across all programs (Alpha, A330/MLV, Blue Ghost and Elytra) and across the company to test and validate hardware in the pursuit of developing, qualifying and accepting flight components. The test team not only supports testing, but also launch operations at Firefly's SLC-2W Launch Site. Engineers learn the ropes and fundamentals of operations at our Briggs test site, then leverage these skills to put Firefly hardware into space. Firefly is a new aerospace company, full of creative and talented people, and the engineers in Launch and Test are the where the “Lox hits the TEA-TEB”.

Engineers on this team are responsible for not just partnering with their fellow engineers to hash out plans to test components to their flight-like limits, but also developing the required infrastructure, mechanical, electrical and software, to support these tests. Engineers are expected to be fast on their feet, adaptive and responsive to challenges. They are expected to be in the field, working in hands on and time sensitive applications. Operations Engineers are expected to be self-sufficient, driven and highly motivated engineers up for learning new skills and taking on challenges to excel.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Push the envelope for testing, automation, and stand development to ensure we meet our business needs across spacecraft and launch vehicles.
• Coordinate cross-functional team to ensure stand and article readiness to execute testing required to launch, land and orbit successfully
• Develop test and launch procedures to check out and operate launch vehicle systems and subsystems
• Execute test and launch plans and procedures on console, using voice comm systems and data display and control systems
• Develop and execute system validations, activations, upgrades and other tests required to ensure your stand is ready to support testing
• Manage test stand scheduling for operations and maintenance down time
• 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
• Ensure all operations are performed on time, safely and in a professional manner
• Analyze and review data to ensure that hardware is operating as expected utilizing numerical data analysis tools to interpret test results

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• BS in Engineering or related engineering discipline
• Works well in a collaborative multidisciplinary environment
• 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
• Willingness to travel to support launch operations in California. (Max, 25%)

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
• 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