Launch Vehicle Mechanisms Engineer II

Cedarparktexasedc; Cedar Park (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental plan

Vision plan

Parental leave

Educational reimbursement

Short-term disability

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace is seeking a Launch Vehicle Mechanisms Engineer II to design, analyze, develop, and qualify critical moving mechanical assemblies for launch vehicle programs. You will own mechanical definitions, perform detailed analyses, and document results to ensure mission success.

Responsibilities include leading testing and qualification activities, collaborating with avionics, structures, propulsion, and operations, and mentoring junior engineers.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related engineering field.
• 3+ years designing, analyzing, and qualifying mechanical mechanisms for aerospace or high-reliability systems.
• Experience with flight-critical mechanisms such as separation systems, deployment mechanisms, actuators, latches, hinges, springs, and release devices.
• Strong understanding of kinematics, tribology, tolerance analysis, lubrication, and wear in aerospace environments.
• Experience designing and testing for extreme environments including vibration, shock, thermal cycling, vacuum, and cryogenic conditions.
• Proficiency with FEA and classical hand calculations methods to evaluate strength, stiffness, and fatigue (Ansys, Femap).
• Experience supporting production builds, resolving nonconformances, and improving producibility.
• Experience defining qualification and acceptance test programs and interpreting test data.
• Proven ability to make sound, defensible engineering decisions under schedule and program constraints.

Responsibilities

• Own the design and development of moving mechanical assemblies for launch vehicle missions.
• Create and manage hardware definitions through CAD and drawings.
• Lead detailed analyses including margins, fatigue, wear, tolerances, and dynamics of moving systems.
• Document and ensure reliability through thorough records.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure mechanisms integrate with structures, avionics, propulsion, and operations.
• Coordinate with Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain to ensure producibility and flight-readiness.
• Support build, integration, and acceptance activities resolving fit, function, and performance issues.
• Lead development, qualification, and acceptance testing to standards such as SMC-S016, AIAA S-114, GEVS.
• Mentor junior engineers and act as SME for mechanisms across programs.
• Act as subject-matter expert for mechanisms across multiple projects.

Skills

Mechanical Engineering

Aerospace experience

Flight-critical mechanisms

Kinematics & tribology

FEA

Production support

Qualification testing

Decision making

Education

B.S. in Mechanical/Aerospace engineering

MS/PhD in Mechanical/Aerospace or 5+ years exp

Tools

ANSYS

Femap

Job description

Firefly Aerospace is seeking a Launch Vehicle Mechanisms Engineer II to design, analyze, develop, and qualify critical moving mechanical assemblies for launch vehicle programs. You will own mechanical definitions, perform detailed analyses, and document results to ensure mission success.

Responsibilities include leading testing and qualification activities, collaborating with avionics, structures, propulsion, and operations, and mentoring junior engineers.