Lead, Composite Manufacturing Engineer

Firefly Aerospace; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental & vision plans

Parental leave

Relocation benefits

Educational reimbursement

Short-term disability

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace is seeking an experienced Manufacturing Engineer to lead tooling and fixturing development for aerospace composite components in our Austin, TX facility. This role emphasizes reducing cycle times, improving quality, and driving continuous improvement across cross‑functional teams.

You will mentor engineers, own hardware development, and implement innovative tooling solutions while ensuring adherence to ITAR requirements and aerospace standards.

Qualifications

• : Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• : 10 years of experience in carbon fiber composite aerospace manufacturing; strong technical aptitude.
• : Proficiency in CAD software for tooling/fixturing designs.
• : Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
• : Demonstrated track record of process improvements in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of tooling, fixtures, and production equipment for aerospace composite components.
• Oversee manufacturing programs to meet quality, cost, and schedule targets.
• Drive Lean and Six Sigma initiatives to reduce cycle times and improve efficiency.
• Mentor less experienced engineers and collaborate with design, manufacturing, and quality teams.
• Develop and implement new tooling/fixturing solutions to enhance production capability.

Skills

Mechanical Engineering

Carbon fiber composites

CAD software

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree

Tools

CAD software

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.

You will be responsible for developing tooling and fixtures for development programs as well as production programs, driving continuous improvement initiatives, optimizing processes, developing brand new processes, and providing technical expertise to enhance our production capabilities. This role will give you a wide variety of opportunities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage team member tasking and priorities based off schedule IMS needs.
• Act as Integrated Product Lead for Manufacturing team.
• Train and coach team members on complex problem solving.
• Lead the design and development of tooling, fixtures, and production equipment necessary for the manufacturing of aerospace composite components.
• This includes selecting appropriate materials and manufacturing processes to meet specific aerospace industry standards.
• Continuously evaluate and enhance manufacturing processes, tooling, and fixtures to optimize efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
• Implement improvements to increase production capacity and reduce cycle times.
• Take ownership of hardware development and production processes, ensuring adherence to schedules and driving continuous improvements.
• Develop and implement innovative solutions for tooling and fixturing to enhance manufacturing efficiency and quality.
• Act as the primary point of contact for all aspects related to part expertise, including understanding intricacies of the hardware and providing guidance on its fabrication.
• Support manufacturing floor operations by actively engaging with production teams to identify areas for improvement and implement necessary changes.
• Create detailed work instructions and procedures to standardize manufacturing processes and ensure consistency in product quality.
• Lead the resolution of nonconformance issues by assessing root causes and implementing corrective actions to bring parts back into compliance.
• Demonstrate exceptional problem‑solving skills and a proactive approach to addressing challenges in a fast‑paced environment.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including design, manufacturing, and quality, to ensure the seamless integration into the production process.
• Manage and oversee manufacturing programs, ensuring they meet quality, cost, and schedule requirements.
• Identify and address production challenges, implementing effective solutions to ensure the timely delivery of high‑quality aerospace components.
• Implement and maintain rigorous quality control measures to meet industry standards and customer expectations.
• Identify cost‑saving opportunities and participate in cost reduction initiatives while maintaining product integrity.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, driving Lean and Six Sigma principles throughout the manufacturing process.
• Mentor less experienced engineers

QUALIFICATIONS

• Required Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related Engineering field.
• 10 years experience in carbon fiber composite aerospace manufacturing Strong technical aptitude and ability to quickly become an expert on complex hardware.
• Proficiency in CAD software for developing tooling and fixturing designs.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated track record of driving process improvements and delivering results in a fast‑paced environment.
• High level of initiative, self‑motivation, and ability to thrive in a dynamic and challenging work environment.
• Excellent problem‑solving and analytical abilities.
• Desired 5+ years working in a aerospace manufacturing or engineering environment with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, or similar area.
• Master's degree is a plus.
• Automated Fiber Placement experience.
• Quick‑turn custom composite tooling design and fabrication.
• Six Sigma or Lean manufacturing.
• Black Belt certification

Benefits

• generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles
• parental leave
• relocation benefits
• educational reimbursement
• short term disability
• 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.

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.