Propulsion Engineer (Valves)

Firefly Aerospace; Cedar Park (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace seeks a Propulsion Engineer to design, develop, and test high-performance fluid components for our Medium Launch Vehicle. Ensure reliability and cost-efficiency in aerospace systems while collaborating with cross-functional teams. This role offers responsibilities throughout the entire product lifecycle, aimed at advancing innovative space technologies.

Benefits

Generous health plans

Dental and vision plans

Parental leave

Educational reimbursement

Flexible PTO options

Pet Insurance

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in propulsion or fluid system design.
• Exceptional engineering fundamentals comprehension.
• Self-motivated and able to manage complex projects.

Responsibilities

• Design and test high-performance propulsion components.
• Own the entire product lifecycle from development to production.
• Lead failure investigations and implement solutions.

Skills

Fluid Mechanics

Heat Transfer

Structural Analysis

Analytical Modeling

Project Management

GD&T

Collaboration

Problem Solving

Education

BS in Aerospace Engineering

Related Engineering Discipline

Tools

DFM

FEA

CFD

Job description

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE

As an end-to-end responsive space company, Firefly Aerospace is on a mission to enable our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. Our small-to-medium lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles allow us to service the entire lifecycle of government and commercial missions from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. We utilize carbon composite structures, patented propulsion technologies, and common components across our vehicles to iterate quickly, improve reliability, and deliver payloads at a lower cost.

SUMMARY

At Firefly, we believe that building a reliable and inexpensive launch vehicle requires the most reliable, production efficient fluid components available. As a Firefly Propulsion Engineer, we design, build, and test high-performance, precision fluid components tailored to the specific needs of the MLV (Medium Launch Vehicle). Our team of responsible engineers own their products for the entire product lifecycle; from initial conception through qualification and handoff to the production team.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Demonstrate extreme ownership of hardware.

• Conceptualize, design, develop and deliver propulsion components to high performance systems.

• Responsible for entire development lifecycle and production support as the technical expert.

• Own a combination of Firefly developed and commercial-off-the-shelf (COTs) valves, regulators and actuators.

• Conduct CoDRs, MRR, PDRs, TRRs, data reviews and CDRs.

• Author and execute qualification, and acceptance test plans.

• Standardize solutions across programs and product lines.

• Improve mission cadence by identifying and implementing cost saving and risk reduction measures.

• Work in cross-functional teams with analysis, manufacturing, quality, supply chain and test engineering.

• Resolve non-conformances and implement design changes to improve product satisfaction.

• Work with the program teams to develop hardware upgrades in alignment with ambitious performance and cost goals.

• Develop and validate simulation-based methods against subscale and full-scale testing.

• Hands on problem solving at the test site with owned product lines as needed.

• Perform hand calculations of various complexity.

• Lead failure investigations to determine root cause and implement mitigations.

• Qualify existing and new product lines following guidance from SMC-S-016 and S-080 as applicable.

• Maintain records and documentation.

• Manage multiple projects and competing priorities.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• BS in Aerospace Engineering or related engineering discipline.

• 3+ years of progressive experience in a component, propulsion, or fluid system design-related role.

• Exceptional comprehension of engineering fundamentals including fluid mechanics, heat transfer, structural analysis, materials, and processes.

• Strong understanding of fluid systems aspects such as fluids systems sizing, valve design and operation, instrumentation, flexible element design & integration and fluid fittings

• Skilled in creating analytical/numerical models of engineering devices and processes.

• Ability to successfully manage complex projects.

• Proficient with GD&T.

• Works well in a collaborative, fast paced, multidisciplinary environment.

• Demonstrated interest in advancing New Space.

• Self-motivated with minimum direction required.

• Ability to creatively develop economical solutions.

Desired:

• Served as a Responsible, Manufacturing or Test engineer for an aerospace development project in a fluids related subsystem.

• Component test experience.

• Proficient with DFM.

• Proficient with FEA and/or CFD analysis.

• Knowledge of high-pressure, cryogenic, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems.

• Experience with valve and regulator design.

• Experience with liquid oxygen or other cryogenic operations.

• Experience modeling fluid networks.

• Experience with rapid development techniques for hardware.

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, pet Insurance, 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.