Chief Engineer, Advanced Technology

Firefly Aerospace, Inc.

Cedar Park (TX)

On-site

USD 180,000 - 240,000

Full time

28 hours ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision

Parental leave

Relocation benefits

Educational reimbursement

Short-term disability

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace, Inc. seeks a Chief Engineer for the Advanced Technology Department in Austin, TX.

You will lead design, development, integration, and launch of key tech for current and future missions, driving technical strategy and ensuring safety and performance across ATD systems. You will mentor teams, coordinate across propulsion, structures, avionics, and GNC, and oversee testing and optimization of complex propulsion systems.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering required.
15+ years designing propulsion and fluid systems for aerospace.
Proven leadership with high-performing technical teams.
Track record delivering complex systems from concept to flight.
Strong communication and collaboration across stakeholders.
Deep knowledge of mechanical design, fluid dynamics, combustion, and thermal management.
Advanced degree preferred.
Experience integrating, testing, and launching liquid-propellant launch vehicles.
Proficient in CFD/FEA and system-level analyses.
Experience with loads, environments, and structural analysis

Responsibilities

Provide technical leadership and strategic direction for the Advanced Technology Department, ensuring alignment with the company's goals and objectives
Serve as a technical mentor across all ATD teams, including analysis, components, propulsion systems, engines, structures, and avionics
Collaborate closely with senior technical leaders, chief engineers, and cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration and performance optimization of ATD systems
Oversee the selection, design, evaluation, and testing of system components and subsystems
Conduct comprehensive analyses, simulations, and testing to validate and optimize the performance and reliability of ATD systems
Identify potential issues, manage technical risks, and develop mitigation plans to ensure successful system development and mission outcomes
Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the department

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

System integration

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical guidance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

Advanced degree in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

Tools

CFD

FEA

Thermal analysis

Propulsion testing

Job description

At Firefly, we’re focused on making space attainable for everyone – including you! Each team member’s passion, dedication, and innovative ideas have a direct impact on fueling our successful trajectory into space. And there’s no shortage of meaningful projects to work on at Firefly. With launch, lunar, and orbital vehicles, Firefly has a diverse line of business with opportunities to get hands-on experience launching rockets, operating in space, and landing on the Moon.

Our missions are powered by our incredible team ...

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What does SciTec bring to the Firefly family?
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Peep our Elytra orbiter being assembled in the ...

Peep our Elyta orbiter being assembled in the ...

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Start your week with another Manufacturing Minute! ...

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This World Space Week, remember to look up and ...

Headquartered in the Lone Star State, Firefly’s hardworking team reflects Texas’ GO BIG culture in everything we do. We build big, achieve big, and dream big. We’re building launch vehicles and spacecraft to provide rapid, reliable space access. We’ve achieved some incredible wins, including the first successful commercial Moon landing. And we’re dreaming bigger than this planet with ambitions to Mars, Venus, and beyond. Our core values are what drive us along the way.

Passion

Fireflies believe in perseverance, responsiveness, and mentoring others with a focus on inspiring a better future.

Accountability

Fireflies act with integrity and take ownership of our actions, commitments, decisions, and outcomes.

Fireflies work in alignment across teams and communicate clearly with mutual respect for one another.

Fireflies deliver high-quality work through technical rigor and timely disciplined execution for our customers.

We take care of our Fireflies with some of the best benefits in the industry. Our mission to make space for everyone starts with our employees and allowing them to make space for their family, their career, and their future.

Space for You

Unlimited PTO for exempt employees
3-month sabbatical for every 5 years of service
Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
Mental health services
Paid military leave

Space for Your Family

12 weeks paid maternity leave
4 weeks paid spouse leave
$20k towards family planning: fertility, surrogacy, adoption
Dog friendly workplace

Space for Your Career

$10k/year towards trade school or college
Ongoing coaching to advance leadership skills

Space for Your Future

Employee-ownership with stock bonuses
4% Safe Harbor 401(k) matching
$10k bonus for home purchase in Cedar Park, Texas

Job Openings

From launch technicians to propulsion engineers, Firefly has open roles across the company. We’re looking for passionate, bright innovators to join our team and help make space an achievable dream for everyone.

Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company that enables our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the only commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the only company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Our launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide government and commercial customers with full mission services from low Earth orbit to 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

As the Chief Engineer for the Advanced Technology Department (ATD), you will play a pivotal role in leading the design, development, integration, and launch of key technologies for our current and future missions. You will be responsible for overseeing the technical strategy, execution, and delivery of these systems, ensuring they meet the highest standards of performance, reliability, and safety. We are seeking a candidate who not only possesses the technical skills and expertise for the role but also exhibits an undeniable passion for their work and the ability to inspire and motivate those around them.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide technical leadership and strategic direction for the Advanced Technology Department, ensuring alignment with the company's goals and objectives
Serve as a technical mentor across all ATD teams, including analysis, components, propulsion systems, engines, structures, and avionics
Collaborate closely with senior technical leaders, chief engineers, and cross-functional teams, including guidance, navigation, and control (GNC), structures, avionics, and systems engineering, to ensure seamless integration and performance optimization of ATD systems
Oversee the selection, design, evaluation, and testing of system components and subsystems (e.g., turbomachinery, valves, and injectors)
Conduct comprehensive analyses, simulations, and testing to validate and optimize the performance and reliability of ATD systems
Identify potential issues, manage technical risks, and develop mitigation plans to ensure successful system development and mission outcomes
Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the department

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
15+ years of experience in the design, development, and integration of propulsion and fluid systems for aerospace applications
Excellent leadership skills, with the ability to inspire and mentor a high-performing technical team
Proven track record of delivering complex systems projects from concept through flight qualification
Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills, with keen attention to detail and a focus on delivering high-quality solutions
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders
Deep knowledge of mechanical design principles, fluid dynamics, combustion processes, and thermal management for space applications
Passion for learning and teaching about advanced technology
Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
Experience integrating, testing, and launching liquid-propellant launch vehicles
Proficiency in thermal analysis and optimization of propulsion systems to ensure reliable performance and safety
Proficiency in vehicle-level loads and environments, structural analysis, and combined loads analysis
Familiarity with computational fluid dynamics (CFD), finite element analysis (FEA), and other simulation tools used in propulsion design and testing
Understanding of materials selection and manufacturing processes for launch vehicle and spacecraft components

Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, relocation benefits, 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.

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