Composites Manufacturing Engineer III

Firefly Aerospace; United States; On-site; USD 100,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental and vision coverage

Parental leave

Relocation benefits

Educational reimbursement

Short-term disability

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace seeks a Manufacturing Engineer to lead tooling, fixtures, and production equipment development for its advanced aerospace composites. You will optimize processes, drive capacity and cycle-time improvements, and own hardware development across cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment.

You will apply Lean and Six Sigma principles, mentor junior engineers, and collaborate closely with design, quality, and manufacturing to ensure on-time delivery of

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 10 years experience in carbon fiber composite aerospace manufacturing.
• Strong technical aptitude and ability to quickly become an expert on complex hardware.
• Proficiency in CAD software for developing tooling and fixturing designs.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Proven track record of driving process improvements in a fast-paced environment.
• High initiative and adaptability in dynamic work settings.
• Desirable: 5+ years in aerospace manufacturing/engineering; Master’s degree a plus; Six Sigma/Lean; Black Belt; AFP experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of tooling, fixtures, and production equipment for aerospace composite components.
• Continuously evaluate and enhance manufacturing processes, tooling, and fixtures to optimize efficiency, quality, and cost.
• Implement improvements to increase production capacity and reduce cycle times.
• Own hardware development and production processes, ensuring schedules are met and improvements pursued.
• Develop innovative tooling/fixturing solutions to boost efficiency and quality.
• Serve as primary contact for part expertise and fabrication guidance.
• Support manufacturing floor operations by partnering with production teams.
• Create detailed work instructions and procedures to standardize processes.
• Lead resolution of nonconformance through root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Collaborate with design, manufacturing, and quality to ensure seamless integration.

Skills

Tooling design

Fixture design

Production engineering

Cross-functional

Continuous improvement

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

CAD software

AFP tooling

Job description

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE

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

We are seeking a highly motivated and dedicated Manufacturing Engineer to join our Structures Department. As part of a small, fast-paced, and passionate team you will be instrumental developing the world’s largest liquid fueled all composite rocket and implementing full rate production on our current vehicle and programs. You will be responsible for developing tooling and fixtures for development programs as well as production programs, driving continuous improvement initiatives, optimizing processes, developing brand new processes, and providing technical expertise to enhance our production capabilities. This role will give you a wide variety of opportunities. This position requires a strong background in engineering, extensive experience with practical problem solving and the ability to learn quickly.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the design and development of tooling, fixtures, and production equipment necessary for the manufacturing of aerospace composite components. This includes selecting appropriate materials and manufacturing processes to meet specific aerospace industry standards.
• Continuously evaluate and enhance manufacturing processes, tooling, and fixtures to optimize efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
• Implement improvements to increase production capacity and reduce cycle times.
• Take ownership of hardware development and production processes, ensuring adherence to schedules and driving continuous improvements.
• Develop and implement innovative solutions for tooling and fixturing to enhance manufacturing efficiency and quality.
• Act as the primary point of contact for all aspects related to part expertise, including understanding intricacies of the hardware and providing guidance on its fabrication.
• Support manufacturing floor operations by actively engaging with production teams to identify areas for improvement and implementing necessary changes.
• Create detailed work instructions and procedures to standardize manufacturing processes and ensure consistency in product quality.
• Lead the resolution of nonconformance issues by assessing root causes and implementing corrective actions to bring parts back into compliance.
• Demonstrate exceptional problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to addressing challenges in a fast-paced environment.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including design, manufacturing, and quality, to ensure the seamless integration into the production process.
• Manage and oversee manufacturing programs, ensuring they meet quality, cost, and schedule requirements.
• Identify and address production challenges, implementing effective solutions to ensure the timely delivery of high-quality aerospace components.
• Implement and maintain rigorous quality control measures to meet industry standards and customer expectations.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and participate in cost reduction initiatives while maintaining product integrity.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, driving Lean and Six Sigma principles throughout the manufacturing process.
• Mentor less experienced engineers.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Required Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related Engineering field.
• 10 years experience in carbon fiber composite aerospace manufacturing.
• Strong technical aptitude and ability to quickly become an expert on complex hardware.
• Proficiency in CAD software for developing tooling and fixturing designs.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated track record of driving process improvements and delivering results in a fast-paced environment.
• High level of initiative, self-motivation, and ability to thrive in a dynamic and challenging work environment.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• Desired 5+ years working in a aerospace manufacturing or engineering environment with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, or similar area.
• Master's degree is a plus.
• Automated Fiber Placement experience.
• Quick-turn custom composite tooling design and fabrication.
• Six Sigma or Lean manufacturing.
• Black Belt certification.
• 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.

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE

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.