Launch Engineer IV- Fluid Systems

Firefly Aerospace, Inc.

Austin, Northern (TX, KY)

Hybrid

USD 120,000 - 180,000

Full time

2 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental and vision plans

Parental leave

Educational reimbursement

Short term disability

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace, Inc. is seeking a seasoned Launch Site Development engineer to design, commission, and optimize fluid systems supporting a growing portfolio of launch sites worldwide. You will lead cross-functional reviews, manage programs, and ensure safe, reliable operation of ground support equipment.

The role requires 7+ years in mechanical/aerospace systems, strong knowledge of P&IDs and hazard analysis, and the ability to obtain a security clearance. Multiple U.S.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering (or related field) is required.
7+ years' hands-on experience with mechanical, propulsion, fluid, or flight hardware systems.
Experience with interpretation and design of P&IDs.
Experience with hazard and risk analysis tools (FMEA, FMECA, FHA, HAZOP).
Ability to prioritize tasks in a high-pressure environment; strong initiative and communication.
Ability to obtain a security clearance.
Master's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering is preferred.

Responsibilities

Design, characterize, and optimize fluid systems for a global launch portfolio.
Lead design reviews with multidisciplinary teams to standardize processes across sites.
Commission ground systems and lead vehicle/ground operations at the pad.
Troubleshoot issues and support anomaly investigations during operations and tests.
Develop procedures and automate pad configurations for countdown operations.

Skills

Mechanical design

Aerospace

P&IDs

Hazard analysis

Project management

Communication

Launch operations

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or aerospace engineering

Master's degree in mechanical engineering or aerospace engineering

Tools

Confluence

Jira

SVN

Bitbucket

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.

This World Space Week, remember to look up and ...

The engine powering Alpha`s first stage is truly ...

825 4

More cleanroom space. More spacecraft in ...

Twenty-five years later, we remember the lives ...

355 1

In this Manufacturing Minute, our Tooling ...

319 9

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 on a mission to reliably and repeatedly launch, land, and operate space systems from Earth to the Moon and beyond. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the first commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the first company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space.

The position can be located in the following states CO, CA, TX, FL, VA.

SUMMARY

The Launch Site Development team is hiring for high-impact, dynamic engineering positions for those who thrive on solving real problems in diverse environments. Design, commission, and operate mission-critical fluid systems across a growing portfolio of launch sites, from historical US-based pads to greenfield builds in extreme locations including Wallops Flight Facility and Esrange, Sweden. Take cradle-to-grave ownership of critical launch systems for cryogenic propellants, high-pressure gases, payload environmental control, and other ground support equipment. You'll work with world-class design and operations teams to create adaptable designs that deploy reliably across wildly different site conditions and constraints. Expect your work to matter immediately: concepts become hardware, installations support live operations, and the systems you build enable the next launch.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Design, build, and activate new fluid systems across a global launch portfolio including Vandenberg Space Force Base (CA), Wallops Flight Facility (VA), Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (FL), and Esrange Space Center (Sweden)
Lead design reviews and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams — including design engineers, technicians, external partners, and site personnel — to drive fluid system upgrades, streamline operations, and establish standardized processes across all launch sites
Commission ground systems and lead integrated vehicle/ground operations at the pad
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 red team activities
Write procedures and automation for launch pad configuration, vehicle operations, and propellant/pressurant handling during countdown operations
Develop and execute maintenance strategies that maximize system availability and minimize downtime between missions
Lead development of company processes, guidelines, and training in test and launch operations
Collaborate with customers, external stakeholders, and design teams to ensure interoperability and compliance with regulatory and range safety requirements
Provide technical write-ups for proposals and tailoring of regulations
Guide the work of early career Fluids and Mechanical GSE team members and support hiring efforts
Requires up to 25% travel to test and launch sites to support overall program needs

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or related engineering discipline
7+ years of hands‑on experience with mechanical systems, structural systems, propulsion systems, fluid systems, flight hardware or test operations
Demonstrated experience with interpretation and design of P&IDs
Experience with hazard and risk analysis tools (i.e., FMEA, FMECA, FHA, HAZOP, etc.)
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
Willingness to support off‑hour shifts during launch operations (nights/weekends as needed)
Demonstrated project management experience, including vendor management, ability to communicate with senior leaders, development of budgets and schedules, etc.
Basic working knowledge of standards and regulations (ASME, NFPA, NEC, AFSPCMAN 91-710, NASA-STD-5005, GSFC-STD-8009, etc.)
Master's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or related engineering discipline
Familiarity with data acquisition and control methods, and data analysis tools
Demonstrated experience with standards and regulations (ASME, NFPA, NEC, AFSPCMAN 91-710, NASA-STD-5005, GSFC-STD-8009, etc.)
Prior experience at a federal launch range (e.g., VSFB, CCSFS, KSC, WFF, PSC)
Familiarity with Atlassian products (i.e., Confluence and Jira) and version control systems (i.e., SVN, Bitbucket, etc.)
Ability to obtain a security clearance

Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, 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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