Launch Engineer, Operations II

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 & vision plans

Educational reimbursement

Short term disability

Flexible PTO

Parental leave

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace, Inc. seeks an engineer for the Launch Site Development team who will lead integrated test and launch operations across multiple sites. You will coordinate with GSE, vehicle, software, and ground teams to ensure safe, repeatable launches.

The role requires hands-on experience in on-console operations, automation development, and hazard-conscious decision making, with travel up to 25% to test sites. A mechanical/aerospace/electrical background is essential.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, electrical engineering or related field.
2+ years in test/launch operations or similar high-consequence environments.
On-console real-time operations experience.
Experience with automation sequences and protocols for critical systems.
Programming knowledge (Python, MATLAB) for tooling/automation.
Ability to work in launch site environments with heavy equipment and hazards.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute integrated test and launch ops across a global portfolio.
Lead design reviews and coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to standardize processes.
Commission ground systems and support on-console operations during pad activities.
Troubleshoot issues, lead anomaly investigations, and resolve non-conformances.
Contribute to automation sequences and operational software tools.
Write procedures for pad configuration and propellant handling.
Participate in development of company processes, guidelines, and training.
Collaborate with customers and regulators to ensure interoperability and safety.
Travel up to 25% to test and launch sites as needed.

Skills

On-console operations

Launch operations

Team collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Aerospace/Electrical Eng

Master's degree in engineering

Tools

Python

MATLAB

SCADA

Jira

Confluence

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.

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. Lead the development and execution of mission‑critical test and launch operations across a growing portfolio of launch sites, from historical US-based pads to greenfield builds, including Wallops Flight Facility and Esrange, Sweden. Take ownership of the integrated operations layer that ties every subsystem together. Write the procedures, build the automation, sit on console, and drive the cross‑functional decisions that get vehicles off the pad safely. You'll work across every ground and vehicle subsystem, serving as the connective tissue between fluids, propulsion, avionics, structures, software, and ground systems teams.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Develop and execute integrated test and launch operations 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 GSE design engineers, vehicle engineers, software teams, technicians, and external partners - to drive ground‑system upgrades, streamline operations, and establish standardized processes across all launch sites
Commission ground systems and support integrated vehicle/ground operations at the pad as an on-console operator
Support troubleshooting efforts, resolve any issues and non-conformances that arise during operations/testing, and lead anomaly investigations
Contribute to the development of automation sequences and operational software tools to support test and launch execution
Write procedures for launch pad configuration, vehicle operations, and propellant/pressurant handling during countdown operations
Participate in 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
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
2+ years of hands‑on experience in test operations, launch operations, or similar high‑consequence operational environments (e.g., oil & gas, nuclear, defense)
On-console experience in real‑time operations
Experience executing automation sequences and procedures for hazardous, time‑critical, or mission‑critical systems
Proficiency in at least one programming language (Python, MATLAB, or similar) with demonstrated application to operational tooling, data analysis, or automation
Comfortable working in launch site environments with field testing, heavy equipment, and hazardous materials
Willingness to support off‑hour shifts during launch operations
Master's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or related engineering discipline
Foundational understanding of launch vehicle and ground subsystems, including fluid systems, propulsion, avionics, structures, and software/controls
Experience with distributed control systems, SCADA platforms, or custom data acquisition and control architectures
Experience with hazard and risk analysis tools (i.e., FMEA, FMECA, FHA, HAZOP, etc.)
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)
Able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high pressure fast‑paced environment
Ability to convey complex technical information clearly and concisely to technical and non-technical audiences
Demonstrated project management experience, including vendor management, ability to communicate with senior leaders, development of budgets and schedules, etc.
Familiarity with Atlassian products (i.e., Confluence and Jira) and version control systems (i.e., SVN, Bitbucket, Git, etc.)
Ability to obtain 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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