Senior Launch Vehicle Mechanisms Engineer

Firefly Aerospace; Cedar Park (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision plan

Parental leave

Educational reimbursement

Short-term disability

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace in Texas seeks a Launch Vehicle Mechanisms Engineer III to design, analyze, develop, and qualify moving mechanical assemblies for launch vehicles. You will lead technically across mechanism lifecycles, including stage separation, deployment, and hold-down systems, shaping motion from theory to a functional product.

The role requires expertise in kinematics, tribology, vibration and cryogenic environments, plus hands-on CAD work and leading test campaigns.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related field.
• 6+ years designing, analyzing, and qualifying aerospace mechanisms.
• Experience with flight-critical mechanisms and harsh environments.
• Proficiency in kinematics, tribology, lubrication, and wear in aerospace.
• Experience with qualification/test programs and production support.

Responsibilities

• Own design, analysis, and qualification of moving mechanical assemblies for launch vehicle programs.
• Develop hardware definitions through CAD and detailed drawings.
• Perform structural, fatigue, wear, and thermal analyses on moving systems.
• Document to build confidence and reliability; ensure integration with structures and avionics.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain to ensure producibility.
• Lead testing from component to system level and mentor junior engineers.
• Support build, integration, and acceptance activities; resolve fit and function issues.

Skills

Mechanical design

Aerospace experience

Friction/tribology

Kinematics analysis

Life-cycle engineering

FEA

CAD and drawings

Qualification testing

Education

B.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

M.S. or PhD preferred

Tools

CAD software

FEA software

Job description

Firefly Aerospace in Texas seeks a Launch Vehicle Mechanisms Engineer III to design, analyze, develop, and qualify moving mechanical assemblies for launch vehicles. You will lead technically across mechanism lifecycles, including stage separation, deployment, and hold-down systems, shaping motion from theory to a functional product.

The role requires expertise in kinematics, tribology, vibration and cryogenic environments, plus hands-on CAD work and leading test campaigns.