Manufacturing Engineer III-Composites

Firefly Aerospace; Bertram (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision plans

Parental leave

Relocation benefits

Educational reimbursement

Short term disability

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace in Austin, TX, seeks a highly skilled Manufacturing Engineer to join the Structures Department. You will lead tooling and fixture development for aerospace composite components, optimize processes, and drive continuous improvement across production programs.

Responsibilities include designing tooling, evaluating processes, mentoring engineers, and coordinating with design, manufacturing, and quality teams to deliver high‑quality parts on schedule.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related field.
• 10 years’ experience in carbon fiber composite aerospace manufacturing.
• Proficiency in CAD software for tooling/fixturing designs.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration.
• Six Sigma or Lean manufacturing knowledge is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of tooling, fixtures, and production equipment for aerospace composite components.
• Continuously evaluate and enhance manufacturing processes, tooling, and fixtures to optimize efficiency, quality, and cost.
• Take ownership of hardware development and production processes, ensuring adherence to schedules and driving improvements.
• Develop and implement innovative tooling/fixturing solutions to enhance efficiency and quality.
• Act as primary point of contact for part expertise and guide fabrication considerations.
• Support manufacturing floor operations and collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement changes.
• Create detailed work instructions and standardize manufacturing processes for consistency.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for nonconformances.
• Mentor less experienced engineers and champion Lean/Six Sigma across manufacturing.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and participate in cost reduction initiatives.

Skills

CAD proficiency

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering

Master’s degree is a plus

Tools

Automated Fiber Placement

3D CAD

Lean Six Sigma

Job description

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACEFirefly 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.SUMMARYWe are seeking a highly motivated and dedicated Manufacturing Engineer to join our Structures Department. As part of a small, fast-paced, and passionate team you will be instrumental developing the world’s largest liquid fueled composite rocket and implementing full-rate production on our current vehicle and programs.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. This position requires a strong background in engineering, extensive experience with practical problem solving and the ability to learn quickly.RESPONSIBILITIESLead 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 to 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 engineersQUALIFICATIONSRequiredBachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related Engineering field.10 years’ experience in carbon fiber composite aerospace manufacturingStrong 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.Desired5+ 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 experienceQuick-turn custom composite tooling design and fabricationSix Sigma or Lean manufacturing Black Belt certificationPrimary Level Salary Range:Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, relocation benefits, 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.