Composites Manufacturing Engineer Lead
Firefly Aerospace · Briggs, TX
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 10+ years
- Certification
- Black Belt preferred
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- Today
The role in 30 seconds
A management manufacturing role at Firefly Aerospace (aerospace & defense) in Briggs, TX.
- They ask for
- 10+ years · degree required · Black Belt preferred
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Black Belt, Root cause, Tooling
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in Texas: typical posted base $79k–$132k.
Median of the low and high ends of 32 live postings that list pay, out of 145 manufacturing engineer openings in Texas, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Texas plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 144 other live manufacturing postings in Texas.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (10+ vs 5+)
Typical $79k–$132k, from 32 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Tooling 58%
- ✓ Root cause 51%
- ✓ Lean 39%
- ✓ New product launch 38%
- Automation 35%
- ✓ Six Sigma 28%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Black Belt, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with 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 in this kind of role, 2 leaders. 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?
- The posting mentions a Black Belt. Does the company sponsor certification?
- 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
13 other open roles at this site · 3 people we found in manufacturing roles at Firefly Aerospace.
- Composites Manufacturing Engineer III · Manufacturing · Senior
- Manufacturing Engineer III-Composites · Manufacturing · Senior
- Composites Manufacturing Engineer II-Alternate Shift Option · Manufacturing
- Lead, Composite Manufacturing Engineer · Manufacturing · Manager
- Propulsion Manufacturing Engineer III · Manufacturing · Senior
- Manufacturing Engineer I-GSE · Manufacturing
Full description from Firefly AerospaceAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Manage team member tasking and priorities based off schedule IMS needs.
- ◆Act as Integrated Product Lead for Manufacturing team.
- ◆Train and coach team members on complex problem solving.
- ◆Lead the design and development of tooling, fixtures, and production equipment necessary for the manufacturing of aerospace composite components. This includes selecting appropriate materials and manufacturing processes to meet specific aerospace industry standards.
- ◆Continuously evaluate and enhance manufacturing processes, tooling, and fixtures to optimize efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness. Implement improvements to increase production capacity and reduce cycle times.
- ◆Take ownership of hardware development and production processes, ensuring adherence to schedules and driving continuous improvements.
- ◆Develop and implement innovative solutions for tooling and fixturing to enhance manufacturing efficiency and quality.
- ◆Act as the primary point of contact for all aspects related to part expertise, including understanding intricacies of the hardware and providing guidance on its fabrication.
- ◆Support manufacturing floor operations by actively engaging with production teams to identify areas for improvement and implement necessary changes.
- ◆Create detailed work instructions and procedures to standardize manufacturing processes and ensure consistency in product quality.
- ◆Lead the resolution of nonconformance issues by assessing root causes and implementing corrective actions to bring parts back into compliance.
- ◆Demonstrate exceptional problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to addressing challenges in a fast-paced environment.
- ◆Work closely with cross-functional teams, including design, manufacturing, and quality, to ensure the seamless integration into the production process.
- ◆Manage and oversee manufacturing programs, ensuring they meet quality, cost, and schedule requirements.
- ◆Identify and address production challenges, implementing effective solutions to ensure the timely delivery of high-quality aerospace components.
- ◆Implement and maintain rigorous quality control measures to meet industry standards and customer expectations.
- ◆Identify cost-saving opportunities and participate in cost reduction initiatives while maintaining product integrity.
- ◆Champion a culture of continuous improvement, driving Lean and Six Sigma principles throughout the manufacturing process.
- ◆Mentor less experienced engineers
Required
- ✓Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related Engineering field.
- ✓10 years experience in carbon fiber composite aerospace manufacturing
- ✓Strong technical aptitude and ability to quickly become an expert on complex hardware.
- ✓Proficiency in CAD software for developing tooling and fixturing designs.
- ✓Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
- ✓Demonstrated track record of driving process improvements and delivering results in a fast-paced environment.
- ✓High level of initiative, self-motivation, and ability to thrive in a dynamic and challenging work environment.
- ✓Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities.
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 id
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
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.
We are seeking a highly motivated and dedicated Manufacturing Engineer to join our Structures Department. As part of a small, fast-paced, and passionate team you will be instrumental developing the world’s largest liquid fueled all composite rocket and implementing full rate production on our current vehicle and programs.
You will be responsible for developing tooling and fixtures for development programs as well as production programs, driving continuous improvement initiatives, optimizing processes, developing brand new processes, and providing technical expertise to enhance our production capabilities. This role will give you a wide variety of opportunities. This position requires a strong background in engineering, extensive experience with practical problem solving and the ability to learn quickly.
Desired
- +5+ years working in a aerospace manufacturing or engineering environment with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, or similar area.
- +Master's degree is a plus.
- +Automated Fiber Placement experience
- +Quick-turn custom composite tooling design and fabrication
- +Six Sigma or Lean manufacturing Black Belt certification
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.