Launch Engineer - Mechanical & Fluid 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 Fluid Engineers within the launch group will 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, you will work in small collaborative groups through all stages of the fluid system design, installation, maintenance and operation. This includes recommending upgrades, preliminary and detailed design, sizing, and installation support. You will have ownership of one or more of the following systems: Liquid Oxygen, RP-1 Kerosene, Helium, Water, Nitrogen, Hydraulics and environmental control systems (HVAC), and other systems as required.
RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead deployments, upgrades, operations and maintenance activities on the following launch support systems; Hydraulics, Mechanical and Structural Ground Support Equipment.
• 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, as well as represent Firefly during external design reviews.
• Develop and upgrade launch site equipment, systems and procedures and partner with local and Corporate Headquarters 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 from HIF to the launch pad.
• Responsible for final ground system connections and verifications of Transport Erector Launcher (TEL) at the pad.
• Writes and executes or assigns procedures to configure the launch pads mechanical and fluids systems for test and launch events.
• Identifies, plans, schedules, writes and executes or assigns preventative maintenance procedures to ensure mechanical and Fluid Systems are ready for test and launch events.
• 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 test and launch systems designs and operations. Travels to test and launch sites as required to support the overall program needs.

QUALIFICATIONS
Required

• Bachelors' degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or related engineering discipline.
• 1-3 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
• 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 easily and amicably

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

Additional Requirements

• Ability to pass Space Force background checks for Vandenberg SFB, CA and Cape Canaveral SFS, FL

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.