Launch Engineer II, EGSE

Firefly Aerospace; Lincoln (MA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental & vision plans

Parental leave

Relocation benefits

Educational reimbursement

Short-term disability

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace in Austin, TX, seeks Launch Team Controls and Instrumentation Engineers to design data acquisition, controls, and automation for the Alpha rocket from concept through launch. You will own projects end-to-end, including diagrams, testing, and commissioning, in a fast-paced team environment.

Applicants should have a bachelor’s in engineering and 1–3 years’ experience with aerospace ground systems, PLC/HMI programming, LabVIEW/MAX, and familiarity with bus architectures and hazard

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical, computer, aerospace engineering or related field.
• 1–3 years of professional experience with data acquisition and control systems for aerospace ground/vehicle systems.
• Ability to create process flow diagrams (P&IDs, schematics, control narratives).
• Familiarity with NFPA, NEC, UL and ISA codes and electrical requirements.
• Ability to build panels and electrical harnessing from drawings.
• Proficiency in PLC and HMI programming across multiple platforms.
• Experience with NI MAX for LabVIEW configuration and troubleshooting.
• Knowledge of bus architectures (PCI/PCIe, PXI/PXIe, GPIB, Serial, USB).
• Experience with hazard and risk analysis tools (FMEA, FMECA, FHA, HAZOP).

Responsibilities

• Design data and control systems for launch site I/O diagrams and cabling.
• Create and conduct in-house testing and development of equipment and software.
• Obtain and evaluate vendor quotations for instrumentation and electrical equipment.
• Work with launch personnel on checkouts, commissioning, and calibration.
• Design, develop, and test controls, communications, HMIs, and PLC systems.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and safety requirements with operations.
• Manage all aspects of controls and data acquisition installation and training.
• Performs launch site checkouts and supports launch day operations.

Skills

Data acquisition & control systems

PLC programming / HMI

LabVIEW / MAX

Electrical codes

Panel fabrication

Bus architectures

Hazard analysis (FMEA / HAZOP)

Data communication tech

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering / computer engineering / aerospace engineering

Master’s degree in engineering (desirable)

Tools

LabVIEW

MAX

PCI/PCIe / PXI / GPIB bus knowledge

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

Firefly Controls and Instrumentation Engineers on the Launch Team leverage their creative background and expertise to design data acquisition, controls, and automation systems used to support integration, test, and launch of Firefly vehicles. Controls and Instrumentation Engineers are responsible for the design, fabrication, installation, and maintenance of electrical systems for the Firefly launch team and must apply knowledge of electronic, mechanical, and fluid transport principles to ensure the communication of data is optimally configured. You will have full ownership of your project from the initial concept through all phases of project development. Additionally EGSE Launch Engineers function as a launch operators to support the testing and launch of the Alpha rocket, leveraging succinct communication skills in a fast paced team environment to achieve payload delivery to orbit.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design data and control systems for the launch site including data and control I/O diagrams, instrument and control cable schedules, instrument loop diagrams, junction box wiring diagrams, control panel layout and wiring diagrams.
• Create and conduct in-house testing and development of equipment and software
• Obtain and evaluate vendor quotations for all required instrumentation and electrical equipment
• Work with launch personnel in performing check outs, commissioning, and calibration of pad electrical systems
• Design, develop, and test controls, communications, human-machine interface, and PLC systems for equipment involving electrical, mechanical, and fluid systems
• Work with operations team to ensure compliance with all regulatory and safety requirements, timely build of equipment, and cost efficiency
• Manage all aspects of controls and data acquisition installation, including design, personnel training, engineering support to launch technicians, and equipment commissioning
• Performs launch site checkouts and support launch day operations

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, aerospace engineering or related engineering discipline
• 1-3 years of professional experience with data acquisition and control systems for Aerospace ground systems, Aerospace vehicle systems, Food and Beverage, or Oil and Gas facilities
• Ability to create process flow diagrams (P&IDs, schematics, cause & effect chart, control narrative, instrument index)
• Familiarity with NFPA, NEC, UL and ISA codes and electrical codes and requirements
• Ability to assist in building of panels and electrical harnessing based off drawings
• Proficiency in programming/configuring PLCs and HMI systems across multiple platforms
• Experience with National Instrument Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) for configuring and troubleshooting devices for use with LabView
• Working knowledge of multiple bus architectures (PCI/PCIe, PXI/PXIe, GPIB, Serial, USB, etc.) and data communication technologies
• Experience with hazard and risk analysis tools (i.e., FMEA, FMECA, FHA, HAZOP, etc.)

Desired

• Master’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, aerospace engineering or related engineering discipline
• 3+ years of professional experience with data acquisition and control systems for Aerospace ground systems, Aerospace vehicle systems, Food and Beverage, or Oil and Gas facilities
• The ability to mentor junior engineers and technicians on electrical systems
• Familiarity with Industrial Ethernet and control specific networking protocols (i.e., ModbusTCP/RTU, RS-485, RS-232, Analog Communication)
• Working knowledge of AFSPCMAN 91-710, NASA- STD-5005, GSFC-STD-8009, RCC 319/324, etc.

Launch Engineer II - $110,151.00 - $130,304.00

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.