Spacecraft Propulsion Engineer I - Valve & Systems

Firefly Aerospace; Cedar Park (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Parental leave

Educational reimbursement

Short term disability

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company focused on reliable launch and space systems. The fluid components team designs, builds, tests, and qualifies high-performance valves, regulators, and actuators for Alpha, Eclipse, Blue Ghost, and Elytra programs.

Our engineers own products end-to-end from concept through qualification to production support, with strong emphasis on cost, risk reduction, and mission cadence across programs.

Qualifications

• BS in Aerospace Engineering or related engineering discipline.
• Internship experience in a valve 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.
• Works well in a collaborative, fast paced, multidisciplinary environment.
• Demonstrated interest in advancing 'newspace'.
• Self-motivated with minimum direction required.
• Ability to creatively develop economical solutions.
• Served as a Responsible, Manufacturing or Test engineer for an aerospace development project in a fluids related subsystem.
• Proficient with GD&T
• 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 with rapid development techniques for hardware

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
• Prepare content for and lead CoDRs, MRR, PDRs, TRRs, data reviews and CDRs
• Author and execute qualification, and acceptance test plans with hands on hardware problem solving
• Work to standardize solutions across programs and product lines
• Improve mission cadence by identifying and implementing cost saving and risk reduction measures
• Lead cross-functional teams of analysts, manufacturing engineers, quality engineers, supply chain representatives, and test engineers to deliver tested hardware on time
• Resolve non-conformances and implement design changes to improve product yield and manufacturability
• Work with the program teams to develop hardware upgrades in alignment with ambitious performance and cost goals
• Develop simulation-based design methods and validate using subscale and full-scale testing
• 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
• Manage multiple projects and competing priorities

Skills

Fluid mechanics

Heat transfer

Structural analysis

Materials & processes

Fluid systems sizing

Valve design

Instrumentation

DFM

FEA/CFD

Cryogenic systems

Valve & regulator design

Liquid oxygen operations

Rapid hardware development

GD&T

Education

Bachelor's in Aerospace Engineering

Tools

FEA tools

CFD tools

CAD software

Job description

Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company focused on reliable launch and space systems. The fluid components team designs, builds, tests, and qualifies high-performance valves, regulators, and actuators for Alpha, Eclipse, Blue Ghost, and Elytra programs.

Our engineers own products end-to-end from concept through qualification to production support, with strong emphasis on cost, risk reduction, and mission cadence across programs.