Instrumentation & Controls Engineer III-Ground Systems

Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company that enables our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the only commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the only company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Our launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide government and commercial customers with full mission services from low Earth orbit to 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.

• •Serve as subject matter expert (SME) for instrumentation and controls across Firefly
• •Lead small technical teams of 1-2 engineers on specific, complex, or time-sensitive projects and initiatives
• •Create and maintain procedures and standards for design, fabrication, and activation of control systems and control hardware
• •Drive innovation in control system methodologies, tools, and approaches
• •Develop long-term technical roadmaps for I&C capabilities and infrastructure
• •Architect control system solutions for novel applications and complex technical challenges
• •Provide technical authority and final design approval for critical control systems
• •Serve as technical escalation point for complex troubleshooting and problem resolution
• •Represent Firefly I&C capabilities in technical reviews, working groups, and industry forums

• •Participate in proposal development and provide technical input for new business opportunities
• •Interface with internal and external customers to understand and resolve technical challenges
• •Support cost estimation and technical risk assessment for new projects
• •Contribute to technical strategy and capability development planning
• •Identify opportunities for technology advancement and competitive differentiation
• •Develop relationships with vendors, technology providers, and industry partners

• •Design, develop, test, and introduce controls, human-machine interfaces, data acquisition, and PLC systems for equipment involving mechanical, electrical, electronic controls, and fluid handling systems
• •Design and implement PLC-based control systems for test stands, launch infrastructure, and ground support equipment
• •Develop control logic, ladder logic, and structured text programming for Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar PLC platforms
• •Design and configure HMIs (Human Machine Interfaces) for operator control and system monitoring
• •Create control system architectures including I/O mapping, network topology, and control panel layouts
• •Design interlock logic and safety systems to protect personnel, equipment, and flight hardware
• •Develop automated sequencing for propellant loading, engine testing, and vehicle processing operations
• •Implement motion control systems for valves, actuators, and positioning systems
• •Develop SCADA systems for monitoring and control of distributed ground support equipment

• •Specify, select, and integrate sensors including thermocouples, RTDs, pressure transducers, flow meters, strain gauges, load cells, and position encoders
• •Design signal conditioning circuits and amplification systems for sensor interfaces
• •Configure data acquisition systems using National Instruments hardwar