Launch Engineer I - Fluids & Mechanical (Entry Level)

Firefly Aerospace, Inc.; Vandenberg Air Force Base Launch Facility 02 (CA); On-site; USD 82,000 - 118,000; Full time

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

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.