Internship - Engine Test - Spring 2027

Firefly Aerospace; United States; On-site; USD 28,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace is seeking an engineering intern to join the Flight and Test Operations team at the Briggs, Texas test site. You will assist with test plans, data analysis, and script development for launch operations, contributing to reliable rocket testing and system improvements.

The role requires being enrolled in a BS/MS program, hands-on attitude, solid communication skills, and CAD experience. This is an on-site internship with opportunities to work across site operations.

Qualifications

• Must be currently enrolled in a BS or MS program (or a recent graduate) at an accredited four-year university or college.
• Willing to work in a hands-on, constantly evolving environment.
• Detail-oriented, managing multiple priorities while maintaining focus towards a common goal.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Execute test and launch plans and procedures on console, using voice communication systems and data display and control systems.
• 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 the test site and launch site responsible engineers to optimize test and launch systems designs and operations.
• Identify continuous improvement opportunities for performance, reliability, and cost.
• Analyze and review data to ensure that hardware is operating as expected, utilizing numerical data analysis tools to interpret test results.

Skills

Detail-oriented

Engineering fundamentals

Communication skills

3D CAD experience

Electrical tools familiarity

Education

Pursuing BS/MS in Engineering

Tools

CAD software

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

The engineer for this position will support Firefly’s Flight and Test Operations team. This team is responsible for the operation of all the test stands at Firefly’s Testing Site in Briggs, Texas, as well as launch operations at our launch sites, such as Vandenberg, California. If you’re the type of person who wants to know every last detail regarding the operation, function, and performance of a rocket, Test and Launch Operations is the place for you. Operations engineers partner with engineers from across the company to test and validate hardware, all in the pursuit of making flight-worthy components. Best of all, they launch the rockets. Firefly is a new aerospace company, full of creative and talented people, and the engineers in Flight and Test Operations are where the “Lox hits the TEA-TEB”.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Execute test and launch plans and procedures on console, using voice communication systems and data display and control systems
• 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 the test site and launch site responsible engineers to optimize test and launch systems designs and operations
• Identify continuous improvement opportunities for performance, reliability, and cost
• Analyze and review data to ensure that hardware is operating as expected, utilizing numerical data analysis tools to interpret test results

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Must be currently enrolled in either a BS or MS program (or a recent graduate) at an accredited four-year university or college.
• Willing to work in a hands‑on, constantly evolving environment
• Detail‑oriented, managing multiple priorities while maintaining focus towards a common goal
• 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

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
• Works well in a collaborative multidisciplinary environment
• 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

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.