Launch Engineer I, (Fluids & Mechanical)

Firefly Aerospace; Vandenberg Air Force Base Launch Facility 02 (CA); On-site; USD 94,000 - 107,000; Full time

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace's Launch team is hiring for an entry-level Launch Engineer I in California to support launch pad fluids and pneumatic systems, assist senior engineers, and grow in scope through operation, maintenance, testing and upgrades during campaigns.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering and 0–2 years of hands-on experience with fluids or pneumatics; you will read drawings and P&ID schematics, participate in design reviews, troubleshoot issues,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• 0–2 years hands-on experience with fluids or pneumatic systems.
• Experience designing, building, troubleshooting and/or operating complex fluid or pneumatic systems.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, P&ID schematics, and test data.
• Ability to perform under high-pressure, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to convey complex technical information clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Assist senior fluids engineers with operation, maintenance, and testing of launch pad fluids and pneumatic systems.
• Participate in design reviews and collaborate to upgrade fluids systems.
• Support system integrity testing for readiness during launches.
• Lead troubleshooting and investigations of non-conformances.
• Prepare procedures for system operation and maintenance.
• Develop maintenance strategies to maximize availability and minimize downtime.
• Collaborate with customers and engineers to ensure regulatory and range safety compliance.
• Provide technical write-ups for system upgrade proposals.
• Write work instructions and supervise field work.

Skills

Fluids systems

Pneumatic systems

Mechanical engineering

Aerospace engineering

Documentation skills

High-pressure environment

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Tools

P&ID schematics

Engineering drawings

Test data analysis

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 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

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.