Mechanical Engineer II

Firefly Aerospace, Inc.; Austin, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace, Inc. is seeking an experienced Avionics Mechanical Engineer in Austin, TX to design electronics packaging and mechanical assemblies for launch vehicles and spacecraft.

You will deliver ruggedized enclosures, component layouts, and test fixtures while collaborating with the avionics and mechanical teams. The ideal candidate has a BS in mechanical or aerospace engineering, 3+ years in CAD (NX) and ANSYS, and hands-on experience with PCB enclosure design, EMI/EMC, and thermal

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of engineering experience designing electronics packaging and electro‑mechanical assemblies.
• 3+ years of 3D CAD design and drafting experience.
• Hands on experience with design and integration of electronics packaging.
• Proficiency with NX or similar CAD software and analysis tools such as ANSYS.
• Experience with multi‑layer PCBA enclosure design.
• Experience with EMI/EMC mitigation, thermal design considerations.
• Understanding of launch vehicle subsystems and avionics interfaces.
• Experience with CNC machining and sheet metal production.

Responsibilities

• Design ruggedized electronics packaging for PCB assemblies used for launch vehicle and spacecraft applications.
• Design electro‑mechanical assemblies for thermal and dynamic environments, EMI/EMC compatibility, and radiation resistance.
• Perform thermal analyses (steady state thermal and thermal cycling) of electronics in aerospace environments.
• Perform modal and vibration analyses of electronic assemblies with mechanical/structural components.
• In addition to electronics packaging, candidate will be responsible for design of test fixturing and ground support hardware for launch vehicle and spacecraft electronics.
• Support vibration, shock, and thermal test campaigns of products designed.
• Candidate will be responsible for development of CAD designs, part drawings, assembly drawings, and technical documentation including presentations and reports.
• Work with the PCB design team to specify mounting strategies, mechanical keep outs, hole size and spacing, PCB copper weights, connector type and placement, and thermal interfaces to the PCB assembly.

Skills

Electronics packaging

3D CAD

NX CAD

ANSYS

Education

BS in mechanical engineering or aerospace engineering

Tools

NX

ANSYS

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.

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

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

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In this Manufacturing Minute, our Tooling ...

In this Manufacturing Minute, our Tooling ...

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As we head into the holiday weekend, we’re proud ...

As we head into the holiday weekend, we’re proud ...

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What does it take to make a lander space‑ready? ...

What does it take to make a lander space‑ready? ...

What’s hotter than a Texas summer? Our Miranda ...

What’s hotter than a Texas summer? Our Miranda ...

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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 Avionics Mechanical Engineers will leverage their creative design and experience to develop electronics enclosures, mechanical components, integration hardware, tooling, and test fixtures for launch vehicles. Qualified candidates will be responsible for design, analysis, hands‑on build/integration, and support of environmental testing. You will be part of the avionics team and will work closely and collaborate with all other teams across the company.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design ruggedized electronics packaging and structural components for PCB assemblies used for launch vehicle and spacecraft applications
• Design electro‑mechanical assemblies for thermal and dynamic environments, EMI/EMC compatibility, and radiation resistance
• Perform thermal analyses (steady state thermal and thermal cycling) of electronics in aerospace environments
• Perform modal and vibration analyses of electronic assemblies with mechanical/structural components
• In addition to electronics packaging, candidate will be responsible for design of test fixturing and ground support hardware for launch vehicle and spacecraft electronics
• Support vibration, shock, and thermal test campaigns of products designed
• Candidate will be responsible for development of CAD designs, part drawings, assembly drawings, and technical documentation including presentations and reports
• Work with the PCB design team to specify mounting strategies, mechanical keep outs, hole size and spacing, PCB copper weights, connector type and placement, and thermal interfaces to the PCB assembly

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or related field
• 3+ years of engineering experience designing electronics packaging and electro‑mechanical assemblies via internships, professional industry experience, or academia
• 3+ years of 3D CAD design and drafting experience
• Hands on experience with design and integration of electronics packaging
• Proficiency with NX or similar CAD software and analysis tools such as ANSYS
• Experience with multi‑layer PCBA enclosure design
• Experience with various design features and calculations for mechanical packaging of electronics including vent analyses, EMI/EMC mitigation strategies, multi‑component tolerance stack‑up calculations, bolt load calculations, Steinberg PCB solder joint fatigue, etc.
• Understanding of basic subsystems of a launch vehicle and how avionics integrate within the vehicle and interface with instrumentation
• Experience designing for CNC machining and sheet metal production, as well as selecting appropriate materials and finishing processes
• Experience with environmental analysis and test including thermal cycle, thermal vacuum, shock, and vibration