Launch Engineer IV, Test and Launch Operations

Firefly Aerospace, Inc.; Texas; Sur place; USD 120 000 - 180 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Unlimited PTO

Sabbatical program (3 months)

Comprehensive health insurance (med/dn

Mental health services

Paid military leave

Family planning benefits (fertility/s

Dog-friendly workplace

401(k) with 4% match

Home purchase bonus in Cedar Park, TX

Résumé du poste

Firefly Aerospace, Inc. is hiring for a Launch Engineer IV in Texas to lead test and launch operations across multiple sites including Briggs, Wallops, Vandenberg, and international locations. You will author procedures, develop automation, and drive cross-functional improvements for reliable missions.

The role emphasizes systems engineering artifacts, risk management, and tight collaboration with engineering and operations teams. Travel up to 25% is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, electrical engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• 7+ years of hands-on experience in test operations, launch operations, or similar high-consequence operational environments.
• Experience developing systems engineering artifacts (requirements, test verification evidence, FMECAs) and utilizing systems engineering tools.
• Experience developing automation sequences and procedures for hazardous, time-critical, or mission-critical systems.

Responsabilités

• Lead development of company processes, guidelines, and training in test and launch operations.
• Develop and execute integrated test and launch operations at Briggs Test Stands (TX), Vandenberg Space Force Base (CA), Wallops Flight Facility (VA), and International Launch sites.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to drive upgrades, efficiencies, and establish standardized processes across launch sites.
• Lead troubleshooting efforts, resolve anomalies that arise during operations/testing, and lead root cause investigations.
• Develop automation and operational software tools to support test and launch execution.
• Author procedures for launch pad configuration, vehicle operations, and propellant/pressurant handling during countdown operations.
• Develop and author operational requirements.
• Provide team and program execution planning.
• Proposal and trade study support.

Connaissances

Launch operations

Systems engineering

Automation sequences

Project management

Technical writing / procedures

Cross-team collaboration

Confluence/Jira

Git/SVN

Formation

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, electrical engineering or related field

Outils

Confluence

Jira

Git/SVN

Description du poste

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.

Our missions are powered by our incredible team ...

Our missions are powered by our incredible team ...

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.

Launch Engineer IV, Test and Launch Operations

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 Vehicle and Launch Operations team is hiring high-impact, dynamic engineers who thrive on solving problems in diverse environments. This role will lead the development, execution, and continuous improvement of vehicle testing and launch operations across a growing portfolio of launch sites, including Wallops Flight Facility, Vandenberg Launch Site, and International Launch sites. A key focus will be integrating operations across subsystems and upstream processes to enable seamless execution from testing through launch. Responsibilities include authoring operational procedures, developing automation, performing console operations, and driving cross-functional improvements that enhance operational efficiency, reliability, and mission success.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead development of company processes, guidelines, and training in test and launch operations
• Develop and execute integrated test and launch operations at Briggs Test Stands (TX), Vandenberg Space Force Base (CA), Wallops Flight Facility (VA), and International Launch sites
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to drive upgrades, efficiencies, and establish standardized processes across launch sites
• Lead troubleshooting efforts, resolve anomalies that arise during operations/testing, and lead root cause investigations
• Develop automation and operational software tools to support test and launch execution
• Author procedures for launch pad configuration, vehicle operations, and propellant/pressurant handling during countdown operations
• Develop and author operational requirements
• Provide team and program execution planning
• Proposal and trade study support
• 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, electrical engineering, or related engineering discipline
• 7+ years of hands‑on experience in test operations, launch operations, or similar high‑consequence operational environments
• Experience developing systems engineering artifacts (requirements, test verification evidence, FMECAs) and utilizing systems engineering tools
• Experience developing automation sequences and procedures for hazardous, time‑critical, or mission‑critical systems
• Comfortable working in launch site environments with field testing, heavy equipment, and hazardous materials
• Able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high‑pressure fast‑paced environment
• Willingness to support off‑hour shifts during launch operations
• System‑level understanding of launch vehicle and ground subsystems, including fluid systems, propulsion, avionics, structures, and software/controls
• Experience with distributed control systems or custom data acquisition and control architecture
• 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 or rocket engine or vehicle test site
• Ability to convey complex technical information clearly and concisely to technical and non‑technical audiences, including executive audiences
• Demonstrated project management experience
• Experience developing budgets and schedules, etc.
• Familiarity with Atlassian products (i.e., Confluence and Jira) and version control systems (i.e., SVN, Bitbucket, Git, etc.)

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.