Launch Engineer I, (Fluids & Mechanical)

Firefly Aerospace, Inc.

Vandenberg Air Force Base Launch Facility 02 (CA)

On-site

USD 82,000 - 118,000

Full time

9 hours ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO for exempt employees

3-month sabbatical for every 5 years

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Life and disability insurance

Mental health services

Paid military leave

12 weeks paid maternity leave

4 weeks paid spouse leave

$20k towards family planning

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace, Inc. is hiring a Launch Engineer I to join the Launch team. The role supports operation, maintenance and testing of launch pad fluids and pneumatic systems, growing in scope with hands‑on experience across design reviews, system upgrades, and readiness checks for launch campaigns.

You will work with multidisciplinary teams, perform troubleshooting, write procedures, and help ensure high‑reliability performance during launches at our Austin area operations.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or related engineering discipline.
0 - 2 years of hands‑on experience with fluids systems, pneumatic systems, mechanisms, hydraulic systems, tooling, flight hardware or test operations
Experience designing, building, troubleshooting and/or operating complex fluid or pneumatic systems in an operational or project environment.
Ability to create and interpret engineering documentation including drawings, P&ID schematics and test data.
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
Ability to convey complex technical information clearly and concisely to technical and non‑technical audiences
Comfortable working in launch site environments with field testing, lifting equipment, and hazardous materials

Responsibilities

This is an entry level position that will assist the senior fluids engineers in the operation, maintenance and testing of the launch pad fluids and pneumatic systems.
This position will grow in scope and responsibility as the candidate obtains hands‑on experience with all aspects of launch pad operations.
Participate in design reviews and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams — including design engineers, technicians, external partners, and site personnel — to drive fluids system upgrades, streamline operations, and validate system readiness and performance for launch campaigns.
Support launch pad system and flight vehicle system integrity testing to validate system health, performance and readiness for launch campaigns.
Lead troubleshooting efforts, resolve any issues and non-conformances that arise during operations/testing, and support anomaly investigations
Opportunities to perform launch console operations or launch day close out team activities
Write procedures for system operation, maintenance, and vehicle testing operations.
Develop and execute maintenance strategies that maximize system availability and minimize downtime between missions.
Collaborate with customers, external stakeholders, and design teams to ensure interoperability and compliance with regulatory and range safety requirements.
Provide technical write-ups for systems upgrade proposals or tailoring of regulations.
Ability to work with Fluids and Mechanical GSE team members with limited supervision to achieve project or testing objectives. Write work instructions and supervise the execution of field work in service of the launch pad fluid and pneumatic systems.

Skills

Fluids systems

Pneumatic systems

Hydraulic systems

Test operations

Engineering documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or related engineering discipline

Tools

P&ID schematics

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.

What does SciTec bring to the Firefly family?
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Our Values

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
- 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

The Launch team is hiring for high-impact, dynamic engineering positions for those who thrive on solving real problems in diverse environments. We are looking for a propulsion and fluids systems engineer to join the team responsible for all aspects of the launch pad propellant and pneumatic systems. This position will grow in responsibility to take ownership of a segment of these systems in all aspects of operation, maintenance, testing and upgrades. This position will validate and execute the performance of these systems during launch operations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

This is an entry level position that will assist the senior fluids engineers in the operation, maintenance and testing of the launch pad fluids and pneumatic systems. This position will grow in scope and responsibility as the candidate obtains hands‑on experience with all aspects of launch pad operations.
Participate in design reviews and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams — including design engineers, technicians, external partners, and site personnel — to drive fluids system upgrades, streamline operations, and validate system readiness and performance for launch campaigns.
Support launch pad system and flight vehicle system integrity testing to validate system health, performance and readiness for launch campaigns.
Lead troubleshooting efforts, resolve any issues and non-conformances that arise during operations/testing, and support anomaly investigations
Opportunities to perform launch console operations or launch day close out team activities
Write procedures for system operation, maintenance, and vehicle testing operations.
Develop and execute maintenance strategies that maximize system availability and minimize downtime between missions.
Collaborate with customers, external stakeholders, and design teams to ensure interoperability and compliance with regulatory and range safety requirements.
Provide technical write-ups for systems upgrade proposals or tailoring of regulations.
Ability to work with Fluids and Mechanical GSE team members with limited supervision to achieve project or testing objectives. Write work instructions and supervise the execution of field work in service of the launch pad fluid and pneumatic systems.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or related engineering discipline
0 - 2 years of hands‑on experience with fluids systems, pneumatic systems, mechanisms, hydraulic systems, tooling, flight hardware or test operations
Experience designing, building, troubleshooting and/or operating complex fluid or pneumatic systems in an operational or project environment.
Ability to create and interpret engineering documentation including drawings, P&ID schematics and test data.
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
Ability to convey complex technical information clearly and concisely to technical and non‑technical audiences
Comfortable working in launch site environments with field testing, lifting equipment, and hazardous materials

Launch Engineer I - $93,950.00 - $107,000.00

Primary Level Salary Range:

$81,633.00 - $118,367.00

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE

SUMMARY

RESPONSIBILITIES

This is an entry level position that will assist the senior fluids engineers in the operation, maintenance and testing of the launch pad fluids and pneumatic systems. This position will grow in scope and responsibility as the candidate obtains hands‑on experience with all aspects of launch pad operations.
Participate in design reviews and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams — including design engineers, technicians, external partners, and site personnel — to drive fluids system upgrades, streamline operations, and validate system readiness and performance for launch campaigns.
Support launch pad system and flight vehicle system integrity testing to validate system health, performance and readiness for launch campaigns.
Lead troubleshooting efforts, resolve any issues and non-conformances that arise during operations/testing, and support anomaly investigations
Opportunities to perform launch console operations or launch day close out team activities
Write procedures for system operation, maintenance, and vehicle testing operations.
Develop and execute maintenance strategies that maximize system availability and minimize downtime between missions.
Collaborate with customers, external stakeholders, and design teams to ensure interoperability and compliance with regulatory and range safety requirements.
Provide technical write-ups for systems upgrade proposals or tailoring of regulations.
Ability to work with Fluids and Mechanical GSE team members with limited supervision to achieve project or testing objectives. Write work instructions and supervise the execution of field work in service of the launch pad fluid and pneumatic systems.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or related engineering discipline
0 - 2 years of hands‑on experience with fluids systems, pneumatic systems, mechanisms, hydraulic systems, tooling, flight hardware or test operations
Experience designing, building, troubleshooting and/or operating complex fluid or pneumatic systems in an operational or project environment.
Ability to create and interpret engineering documentation including drawings, P&ID schematics and test data.
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
Ability to convey complex technical information clearly and concisely to technical and non‑technical audiences
Comfortable working in launch site environments with field testing, lifting equipment, and hazardous materials

Launch Engineer I - $93,950.00 - $107,000.00

Primary Level Salary Range:

$81,633.00 - $118,367.00

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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