Launch Engineer-Fluids Systems IV
Firefly Aerospace · Briggs, TX
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 7+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 3 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior manufacturing role at Firefly Aerospace (aerospace & defense) in Briggs, TX.
- They ask for
- 7+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- FMEA, Automation
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
How this role compares
Against 128 other live manufacturing postings in Texas.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (7+ vs 5+)
Typical $79k–$126k, from 30 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Tooling 58%
- Root cause 57%
- Lean 41%
- ✓ New product launch 36%
- ✓ Automation 36%
- Six Sigma 29%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at Firefly Aerospace
We found 3 people at this company and state: 1 on the team, 2 leaders, plus 2 likely hiring managers. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Bradley → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Firefly Aerospace in Briggs
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Full description from Firefly AerospaceAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Design, build, and activate new fluid systems across a global launch portfolio including Vandenberg Space Force Base (CA), Wallops Flight Facility (VA), Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (FL), and Esrange Space Center (Sweden)
- ◆Lead design reviews and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams — including design engineers, technicians, external partners, and site personnel — to drive fluid system upgrades, streamline operations, and establish standardized processes across all launch sites
- ◆Commission ground systems and lead integrated vehicle/ground operations at the pad
- ◆Lead troubleshooting efforts, resolve any issues and non-conformances that arise during operations/testing, and support anomaly investigations
- ◆Opportunities to perform launch console operations or launch day red team activities
- ◆Write procedures and automation for launch pad configuration, vehicle operations, and propellant/pressurant handling during countdown operations
- ◆Develop and execute maintenance strategies that maximize system availability and minimize downtime between missions
- ◆Lead development of company processes, guidelines, and training in test and launch operations
- ◆Collaborate with customers, external stakeholders, and design teams to ensure interoperability and compliance with regulatory and range safety
requirements
- ✓Provide technical write-ups for proposals and tailoring of regulations
- ✓Guide the work of early career Fluids and Mechanical GSE team members and support hiring efforts
- ✓Requires up to 25% travel to test and launch sites to support overall program needs
Required
- ✓Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or related engineering discipline
- ✓7+ years of hands-on experience with mechanical systems, structural systems, propulsion systems, fluid systems, flight hardware or test operations
- ✓Experience designing, building, troubleshooting and/or operating complex fluid systems
- ✓Demonstrated experience with interpretation and design of P&IDs
- ✓Experience with hazard and risk analysis tools (i.e., FMEA, FMECA, FHA, HAZOP, etc.)
- ✓Able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high pressure fast-paced environment
- ✓Ability to self-motivate and take the initiative to ensure your systems are functional and operating at peak performance
- ✓Ability to adapt to shifting project and/or scope change
requirements
- ✓Ability to convey complex technical information clearly and concisely to technical and non-technical audiences
- ✓Comfortable working in launch site environments with field testing, lifting equipment, and hazardous materials
- ✓Willingness to support off-hour shifts during launch operations (nights/weekends as needed)
- ✓Demonstrated project management experience, including vendor management, ability to communicate with senior leaders, development of budgets and schedules, etc.
- ✓Basic working knowledge of standards and regulations (ASME, NFPA, NEC, AFSPCMAN 91-710, NASA-STD-5005, GSFC-STD-8009, etc.)
qualifications
and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion
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About firefly aerospace
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.
Summary
The Launch Site Development team is hiring for high-impact, dynamic engineering positions for those who thrive on solving real problems in diverse environments. Design, commission, and operate mission-critical fluid systems across a growing portfolio of launch sites, from historical US-based pads to greenfield builds in extreme locations including Wallops Flight Facility and Esrange, Sweden. Take cradle-to-grave ownership of critical launch systems for cryogenic propellants, high-pressure gases, payload environmental control, and other ground support equipment. You'll work with world-class design and operations teams to create adaptable designs that deploy reliably across wildly different site conditions and constraints. Expect your work to matter immediately: concepts become hardware, installations support live operations, and the systems you build enable the next launch.
Desired
- +Master's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or related engineering discipline
- +Familiarity with data acquisition and control methods, and data analysis tools
- +Demonstrated experience with standards and regulations (ASME, NFPA, NEC, AFSPCMAN 91-710, NASA-STD-5005, GSFC-STD-8009, etc.)
- +Prior experience at a federal launch range (e.g., VSFB, CCSFS, KSC, WFF, PSC)
- +Familiarity with Atlassian products (i.e., Confluence and Jira) and version control systems (i.e., SVN, Bitbucket, etc.)
- +Ability to obtain a security clearance
Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, relocation benefits, 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.