Launch Engineer, Mechanical Systems III

Firefly Aerospace; Town of Texas (WI); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision plans

Flexible PTO

Educational reimbursement

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace, located in Wisconsin, is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to join the Launch Team. You will design and oversee mechanical ground systems at various launch sites, ensuring functionality and compliance. The ideal candidate has 5+ years of experience in mechanical design, project management skills, and a Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering.

Firefly offers competitive benefits, including comprehensive health plans, parental leave, and flexible PTO. Candidates must meet U.S. export regulations for employment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on experience with mechanical systems.
• Familiarity with systems integration and hazard analysis tools.
• Ability to adapt to project scope changes.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement mechanical systems at launch sites.
• Collaborate with engineers and vendors to improve system functionality.
• Lead troubleshooting efforts during operations/testing.

Skills

Mechanical systems design

Troubleshooting complex systems

Collaboration with cross-functional teams

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Tools

P&IDs

FMEA tools

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 Mechanical Engineers on the Launch Team leverage their creative background and expertise to help develop innovative solutions for the application of space systems technology. As an Engineer responsible for development of new ground systems at Firefly’s launch sites in Wallops, Esrange and Cape Canaveral, you will work with a multi-disciplinary collaborative team through all stages of mechanical system design, installation, maintenance, and operations. This includes identifying upgrades, preliminary and detailed design, system sizing, and installation support. You will have ownership of one or more of the following systems: Quick disconnects, hydraulics, pad structural components, transportation and integration equipment, environmental control systems (HVAC), and other systems as required.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design and implement new mechanical ground systems at current and future launch sites, including Vandenberg Space Force Base, Wallops Flight Facility, Esrange Space Center, and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
• Collaborate with design engineers, technicians, and vendors to drive system upgrades and improve system functionality, operations, and automation
• Lead and support internal design reviews and operations readiness reviews and represent Firefly during external design reviews
• Develop and upgrade launch site equipment, systems, and procedures and partner with local and remote staff to ensure standard design processes across the company
• Lead troubleshooting efforts, resolve any issues and non-conformances that arise during operations/testing, and support anomaly investigations
• Responsible for the safe movement of launch vehicle and payload segment to the launch pad
• Responsible for final ground system connections and verifications of Erector Launcher at the pad
• Write and execute procedures to configure the launch pad mechanical and fluids systems for launch operations and system testing
• Write and execute preventative maintenance procedures to ensure mechanical and fluid systems are ready launch operations
• Opportunities to perform launch console operations or launch day red team activities
• Support development of company processes, guidelines, and training in test and launch operations
• Team with test site and launch site responsible engineers to optimize launch system designs and operations
• Collaborate with customers, external stakeholders, and design teams to ensure interoperability and compliance with regulatory and range safety requirements
• Support site activation and test operations
• Provide technical write-ups for proposals and tailoring of regulations
• Direct the work of 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
• 5+ years of hands‑on experience with mechanical systems, structural systems, propulsion systems, fluid systems, flight hardware or test operations
• Experience designing, building, troubleshooting and/or operating complex mechanical systems
• Familiarity with the integration of mechanical and fluid systems
• Familiarity with reading and/or designing 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.)
• Ability to obtain a security clearance

Desired

• Master’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or related engineering discipline
• Familiarity with instrumentation and instrumentation deployment methods
• 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.)

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.