Propulsion Engineer III (Propulsion Components)

About Firefly Aerospace

As an end-to-end responsive space transportation company, Firefly Aerospace is on a mission to enable our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. Our launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide government and commercial customers with full mission services from low Earth orbit to the surface of 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.

Summary

At Firefly, we believe that building a reliable and inexpensive launch vehicle requires the most reliable, production efficient valves available. On the propulsion components team, we design, build, test, and qualify high-performance, precision fluid components tailored to the specific needs of our Alpha launch vehicle, Eclipse launch vehicle, Blue Ghost lunar landers, and Elytra spacecraft. 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
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

Qualifications

Required

BS in Aerospace Engineering or related engineering discipline
8+ years of 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.

Desired

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