HSE Specialist III

Firefly Aerospace; California (MO); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace seeks an HSE Specialist III to drive compliance and improve health, safety, and environmental performance at its launch sites. The successful candidate will oversee complex hazardous operations, develop safety programs, and ensure adherence to regulatory requirements, while being part of a dynamic engineering team.

Benefits

Health, dental and vision plans

Parental leave

Educational reimbursement

Short term disability

Pet insurance

Flexible PTO options

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive experience in safety and environmental compliance in aerospace, manufacturing, or hazardous industrial settings.
• Strong working knowledge of OSHA and HAZWOPER standards.
• Demonstrated ability to research and apply federal, state, and local regulations.

Responsibilities

• Support and lead safety reviews of complex operations including cryogenic loading and hypergolic fuel transfers.
• Maintain records and track closure of safety findings across operations.
• Develop and implement key safety programs including fall protection and emergency response.

Skills

Hazardous materials handling

Safety compliance

Environmental management

Risk assessment

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Safety, Engineering, or a related technical field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

As an end-to-end responsive space company, Firefly Aerospace is on a mission to enable our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. Our small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles allow us to service the entire lifecycle of government and commercial missions from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. We utilize carbon composite structures, patented propulsion technologies, and common components across our vehicles to iterate quickly, improve reliability, and deliver payloads at a lower cost.

Position Summary:

As part of a small, hands-on team of engineers and technicians, the HSE Specialist III will drive compliance and continuous improvement in all areas of health, safety and environmental performance. This includes oversight of complex hazardous operations, regulatory permit compliance, program development, and proactive risk mitigation. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced, team-driven environment and demonstrates deep technical knowledge of both occupational safety and environmental systems in aerospace or industrial settings.

Responsibilities:

Launch & Test Site Safety Oversight:

• Support and lead safety reviews of complex operations including cryogenic loading, high-pressure systems, and hypergolic fuel transfers.
• Provide field HSE coverage during hazardous operations (fueling, static fire, vehicle integration, ordnance) ensuring control measures are in place.
• Monitor physical and chemical exposure risks and implement real-time mitigations.

Incident Management & Root Cause Analysis:

• Lead or assist in incident investigations including root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action development.
• Maintain records and track closure of safety findings across operations and audits.

EHS Program Development:

• Develop and implement key safety programs: LOTO, confined space, fall protection, electrical safety, hot work, hazard communication, emergency response, and PPE selection.
• Air permits (PTOs, ATCs for VOCs, generators, and RP-1 fuel)
• Hazardous waste management (SAA oversight, 180-day storage, waste profiling and manifesting)
• CUPA/CERS reporting and site plan submissions
• Storm water & industrial wastewater programs
• Serve as site HSE Committee Co-Chair, driving interdepartmental engagement, meeting facilitation, and safety communication.
• Assist in the development and continual improvement of safety policies, procedures, and SOPs to reflect operational and regulatory updates.
• Conduct environmental and safety audits, due diligence reviews, and lead responses to agency inspections.

Compliance & Training:

• Ensure site compliance with OSHA, Cal/OSHA, EPA, DTSC, CUPA, and other applicable regulations.
• Develop and deliver safety training programs (e.g., hazardous materials, spill response, DOT shipping, RCRA hazardous waste handling).
• Maintain inspection checklists and logs per SPCC, air permit, and facility safety requirements.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Safety, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in safety and environmental compliance in aerospace, manufacturing, or hazardous industrial settings.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental or Safety Engineering.
• Strong working knowledge of:
  • OSHA, CalOSHA general industry and construction standards
  • HAZWOPER, DOT Hazmat shipping, SPCC, SWPPP, and Title V
  • Hypergolic fuel systems, cryogenics, pressure vessels, and chemical handling
• Demonstrated ability to research, interpret, and apply federal, state, and local regulations.
• Experience managing CUPA, EPA, and water board submissions via CERS and SMARTS platforms.
• Skilled in Microsoft Office and document management systems.
• Experience with emergency response coordination involving hazardous releases.
• Competency in performing audits, root cause analysis, and risk assessments.

Additional Requirements:

• Must be local to Vandenberg SFB or willing to relocate.
• Must be able to work outdoors in launch and test environments and wear full PPE.
• Position requires ability to work extended hours and weekends during critical operations.

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.