Launch Technician II, Fluid/Mechanical

Firefly Aerospace, Inc.; Austin, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 100,289,000 - 126,078,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental and vision plans

Parental leave

Educational reimbursement

Short term disability

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace, Inc. seeks an experienced Launch Technician II to fabricate, operate, and maintain launch site mechanical and fluid systems. You will join a small team with minimal supervision and contribute to launch day activities and test operations.

The role requires hands-on skills with high-pressure systems, tool usage, and the ability to travel to test and launch sites. Firefly offers strong benefits and growth opportunities in a fast-growing space company.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Associate degree in engineering/technical/mechanical field preferred.
• 3+ years of experience working with mechanical systems and heavy equipment.

Responsibilities

• Performs work according to policy, procedures, and specifications.
• Reads piping and instrumentation diagrams for installation, troubleshooting and repair.
• Troubleshoots, installs, and maintains fluid system components and gauges.
• Performs tube, piping and conduit installation for fluid systems.
• Installs, removes, and tags out equipment for test or repair and safety.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Mechanical aptitude

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Associate degree in engineering/technical/mechanical field

Tools

Microsoft Office

JIRA

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 ...

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

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

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

825 4

More cleanroom space. More spacecraft in ...

More cleanroom space. More spacecraft in ...

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

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

355 1

In this Manufacturing Minute, our Tooling ...

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

Firefly Fluid/Mechanical Launch Technicians within the launch group will be responsible for the fabrication, operation and maintenance of launch site mechanical and fluid systems. You will also be part of launch day activities and help launch the rockets. You will work as part of a small team requiring minimal supervision, so a self-starter is a must!

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs work according to policy, procedures, and specifications.
• Reads complex piping and instrumentation diagrams and shop drawings for the purpose of installation, troubleshooting and repairing of major systems and minor subsystems and components.
• Troubleshoots, installs, and maintains various fluid system components, including level sensors, flow meters, gauges, regulators, safety reliefs and valves.
• Performs tube, piping and conduit installation for fluid system fabrication, upgrades and modifications.
• Installs, removes, and tags out equipment for test or repair and safety of personnel and equipment.
• Utilizes a wide range of mechanical and test tools including wrenches, sockets, torque wrenches, calipers, micrometers, plug & pin gage, dewpoint meter, while performing work to specifications, to identify problems and to maintain and calibrate equipment to performance standards.
• Executes procedures to operate pad systems as required for launch and checkout operations
• Assists with development of activation, operations and maintenance procedures.
• Safety checks and operates heavy equipment such boom lift, scissor life, forklift and reach lift.
• Performs general housekeeping and continuous improvement of the appearance of the site.
• Performs launch site fluid and mechanical system configurations for test and launch operations and supports launch day red team.
• Travels to test and launch sites as required to support the overall program.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• High School Diploma or GED
• 3+ years of experience working with and troubleshooting mechanical systems, high pressure fluid/pneumatic systems, or heavy equipment
• 3+ years of experience using power tools, hand tools, and calibrated tooling
• General knowledge of shop practices including layout, drilling, sawing, grinding, etc.
• Basic computer skills, including experience using Microsoft Office, JIRA, and photo generation/compilation
• Ability to pass Air Force background checks for Vandenberg AFB, CA.
• Must be comfortable stooping and bending, as well as standing for long periods of time to support test and launch day operations.
• Ability to work at elevated heights (up to 100 feet).
• Ability to work in varying climate environments, heat, cold, rain.
• Ability to lift and carry 30 pounds unassisted.
• Associate degree in an engineering, technical, or mechanical field.
• 3+ years of relevant welding experience.
• Experience with fabrication, machining and welding.
• Adept at troubleshooting and diagnosing problems with mechanical equipment with the ability to apply a resolution in a timely fashion.
• Ability to write routine reports, solve practical problems, and clearly communicate tasks and needs, and training of other personnel.
• Experience with crane and lift operations
• Knowledge of different fittings such as NPT, MS, and A/N and Swagelok
• Ability to read, and understand operating system schematics and drawings

Launch Technician II - $35.00 Per Hour- $44.00 Per Hour

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