{"id":2984858,"url":"https://alion.io/job/firefly-aerospace-manager-engineering","title":"Manager, Engineering","company":{"id":63753,"name":"Firefly Aerospace","domain":"fireflyspace.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/firefly-aerospace-com","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":null},"role":"Management","role_family":"Management","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Cedar Park, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":72000,"max_usd":174000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":2934},"experience_years_min":7,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"ANSYS","optional":false},{"name":"AWS","optional":false},{"name":"AS9100","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-20T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-20","last_verified_at":"2026-10-28T06:07:03Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":8,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":8},"description":"ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE\nFirefly 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.\nAbout the Role\nLead the mechanical backbone of Firefly's ground infrastructure as the MGSE (Mechanical Ground Support Equipment) Engineering Manager. This isn't just engineering management - it's architecting and delivering the physical systems that launch rockets and get spacecraft to orbit. From fast-acting, precision hydraulic systems to massive steel structures supporting multi-million-dollar missions, your team will design, build, and commission the mechanical systems that make space access possible. As the Mechanical Engineering Manager for Ground Systems, you'll lead an expert team of engineers responsible for the mechanical and structural aspects of Firefly's ground support equipment across test stands, launch sites, and numerous production/integration facilities and programs.\nYour responsibilities span Test Stand and Launch Sites, vehicle integration hardware, fast acting and high precision hydraulic systems, and structures that create or maintain safe environments for test, integration, or launch. When Firefly needs a new test stand, your team designs the superstructure, mechanical interfaces, dynamic systems, and works as embedded support for the structures supporting the fluid systems on the stand. When a launch site requires an upgrade, your engineers are the ones called to solve the problem. This role demands both technical depth and leadership excellence.\nYou'll manage 15+ mechanical engineers and designers working on concurrent projects worth millions of dollars. You'll make critical design decisions and trade resolutions, validate structural load calculations, oversee functional checkouts of new hardware, and work with your internal customers across Firefly to support the growing needs before they arise. You'll navigate complex technical trade-offs between performance, cost, schedule, and risk. And you'll represent MGSE capabilities to executive leadership, customers, and external stakeholders. You and your team will own the concept of operations for new hardware and ensuring it suits both current and future needs of the end user. Your team will support active operations by performing stress analysis on equipment currently in operation, make judgement calls on acceptable levels of design margin, and solve vibration or thermal management challenges that few engineers ever face. This is a role where mechanical engineering meets mission success. When your launch mount successfully supports a vehicle through liftoff, when your team's structural design withstands the extreme environment of a hot fire, when a multi-million dollar payload is safely fueled and integrated with the rocket-that's your impact. If you're a mechanical engineering leader who thrives on complex technical challenges, loves building high-performing teams, and wants to see your systems enable humanity's expansion into space, this is your opportunity to lead from the front.\nKey Responsibilities\nTeam Leadership & Management:\nLead and manage MGSE engineering team of 15+ mechanical engineers, designers, and technical staff\nRecruit, hire, and develop top mechanical engineering talent\nSet team goals, provide coaching and mentorship, and conduct performance reviews\nFoster a culture of technical excellence, innovation, collaboration, and accountability\nBuild cross-functional working relationships with other GSE Engineering teams, GSE Fabrication, Test Operations, Launch Operations, Integration, and vehicle Engineering\nDevelop succession plans and career paths for mechanical engineers\nMechanical Systems Design & Engineering:\nOwn mechanical design and engineering for MGSE systems including structures, mechanical handling equipment, integration jibs, test adapters, transport fixtures, and lift equipment\nManage the design of mechanical handling equipment including cranes, hoists, transporters, and positioning systems\nEnsure mechanical designs meet performance requirements, safety standards, and regulatory compliance.\nProject & Program Management:\nOversee multiple concurrent MGSE projects from concept through commissioning and operational handover\nDevelop project schedules, resource plans, and budgets for mechanical engineering efforts\nCoordinate with Program and Project Managers to ensure mechanical engineering deliverables align with program milestones\nTrack project progress, identify risks, and implement mitigation strategies\nMake critical trade-off decisions balancing technical performance, cost, schedule, and risk\nProvide accurate forecasts of engineering labor, schedule, and technical risk to leadership.\nManage requests for support, scope changes and ensure proper change control processes\nTechnical Leadership & Decision-Making:\nServe as technical authority for mechanical engineering decisions on complex MGSE systems\nReview and approve mechanical designs, calculations, drawings, and specifications\nFacilitate technical reviews including Requirements Reviews, Conceptual Design Reviews (CoDR), Preliminary Design Reviews (PDR), Critical Design Reviews (CDR), and ConOps reviews\nResolve technical conflicts and drive consensus between competing concepts\nChallenge requirements where they drive undue challenge, cost, or delivery timeline\nChampion design-for-manufacturability, design-for-assembly, and design-for-maintenance principles\nStrengthen and educate through engineering best practices, lessons learned, and continuous improvement\nDrive innovation in mechanical design methodologies, tools, and technologies\nWork with Safety and Quality teams on risk assessments and mitigation strategies.\nStructural Engineering:\nVerify structural analysis and design for test stands, launch infrastructure, and GSE structures\nManage Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for structural components subjected to mechanical, thermal, and dynamic loads\nDirect design of foundations, anchor bolts, support structures, and seismic restraints\nEnsure structures withstand rocket exhaust plumes, acoustic loads, and environmental conditions\nReview structural calculations, load cases, and factor of safety determinations\nCoordinate with 3rd party civil engineers on foundation design and site civil work\nDesign Documentation & Standards:\nEstablish and maintain MGSE design standards, specifications, and engineering processes through coordination with Firefly Systems Engineering\nEnsure creation of high-quality mechanical drawings, specifications, and design documentation\nImplement configuration management and change control for mechanical designs\nMaintain design database and lessons learned repository.\nEnsure compliance with industry codes including ASME, AISC, AWS, and applicable standards\nVendor & Supplier Management:\nManage relationships with equipment vendors, fabrication contractors, and engineering consultants.\nReview vendor proposals, technical specifications, and cost estimates.\nConduct technical evaluations and source selection for major equipment procurement.\nOversee vendor design reviews, submittals, and technical documentation.\nMonitor vendor performance on quality, schedule, and technical compliance.\nQualify new suppliers and maintain approved vendor lists.\nCross-Functional Collaboration:\nPartner with I&C and Fluids Engineering teams to ensure integrated system design\nCollaborate with GSE Production on fabrication and installation planning\nCoordinate with internal customers to understand operational requirements and constraints\nWork with GSE Leadership on integrated schedules, resource planning, and reporting\nInterface with Procurement on material specifications, long-lead items, and vendor selection\nEngage with customers and stakeholders on technical requirements and design reviews\nCommissioning & Operational Support:\nSupport commissioning activities for new mechanical systems including mechanical proofing and functional testing\nProvide engineering support during system activation, checkout, and initial operations.\nTroubleshoot mechanical system issues during commissioning and operations.\nConduct post-commissioning reviews and implement design improvements.\nSupport test campaigns with engineering expertise and responsive troubleshooting support\nStrategic Planning & Continuous Improvement:\nDevelop long-term MGSE capability roadmaps aligned with Firefly's strategic objectives\nIdentify technology gaps and develop plans to address capability needs\nBenchmark against industry best practices and drive adoption of advanced methodologies\nLead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance design quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.\nSupport business development with technical assessments and capability briefings.\nRequired Qualifications\nBachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related Engineering or Technical discipline\n5 years of experience in mechanical engineering experience in aerospace, oil and gas, defense, or similar industries\nStrong background in structural analysis and design of steel structures\nProficiency with CAD Software (NX or similar)\nExperience with FEA software (ANSYS or similar) for structural analysis\nUnderstanding of structural steel design per AISC specifications and AWS D1.1\nExperience managing and delivering complex technical projects\nProven ability to manage budgets, schedules, and resources across a portfolio of projects\nKnowledge of materials science including metallurgy, corrosion, and material selection\nStrong problem solving skills and ability to make sound engineering judgements\nUnderstanding of manufacturing processes including welding, maching, and fabrication\nAbility to work ain a fast-paced environment with evolving requirements and tight deadlines\nFlexibility to support critical operations including extended hours and occasional travel.\nUS Person status required (US citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or Asylee) due to ITAR/EAR requirements\nPreferred Qualifications\nMaster's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or similar technical field\n7-10 years of experience in Aerospace, Defense, Oil & Gas, or similar industries\nDirect experience with aerospace launch or test\nProfessional Engineer (PE) license in Mechanical Engineering\nKnowledge of NASA-STD-5005\nExperience with AS9100 aerospace quality management systems\nExperience with dynamic analysis including vibration, shock, and seismic design\nBackground in human-rated systems and fault-tolerant design\nExperience with odoo ERP or similar Enterprise systems\nExperience with design evaluation for additive manufacturing and other advanced fabrication techniques\nPrevious experience managing engineering teams in startup or high-growth environments\nFirefly 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.\nTo 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.\nFirefly Aerospace, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Firefly is governed based on merit, competence and 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