Propulsion Engineer II/III - Alpha Engines

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.

About the Role

The Alpha Engines team is responsible for the design, integration, and operation of the Reaver and Lightning engines that power the first and second stages of Firefly’s Alpha launch vehicle.

As a Responsible Engineer, you will own engine hardware across its full lifecycle - requirements definition, design, analysis, development, test, qualification, and flight. You will lead the design and analysis of the hardware, collaborate with fabrication and integration teams to manufacture and assemble the system, and support vehicle testing and launch operations. You will serve as a subject matter expert for the Alpha Engines team and provide an active voice in engine development, test campaigns, and launch operations.

This role requires deep technical knowledge, extreme ownership of hardware from concept to flight, and clear communication with cross-functional partners including propulsion, structures, avionics, and vehicle systems. The successful candidate will be a self-starter who enjoys challenging assumptions, thrives in a fast-paced development environment, and seeks to make impactful contributions to Firefly’s mission.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate full ownership of launch vehicle engine hardware through the full product life cycle

• Lead the design and analysis of engine components and assemblies to meet performance, reliability, manufacturability, and operability requirements

• Drive component and system analyses including fluid, structural, thermal, and dynamic

• Collaborate with manufacturing and integration teams to develop processes, work instructions, and test procedures

• Plan, coordinate, and execute development, qualification, and acceptance testing of flight hardware, including data analysis and reviews

• Develop tools for design, analysis, and test data review

• Author and present design review, test readiness, launch readiness, and data review presentations to internal and external stakeholders

• Identify system-level risks, perform trade studies, and drive decisions based on technical merit, risk, cost, schedule, and quality to ensure successful engine and vehicle operation

• Serve as the propulsion representative for your hardware during engine testing, stage testing, and launch operations

Qualifications

Required

• B.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, or a related engineering discipline

• Level II: 3+ years of experience developing launch vehicle propulsion systems. Level III: 7+ years of experience developing launch vehicle propulsion systems.

• Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals especially fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and solid mechanics

• Demonstrated history of applying engineering first principles to arrive at simple, robust solutions

• Proven experience with strong hardware ownership through multiple aspects of the product lifecycle

• Hands-on experience with hardware design, fabrication, and testing

• Experience with CAD and configuration management tools (Siemens NX and Teamcenter preferred), and comprehension of GD&T, tolerancing, and ASME Y14.5

• Familiarity with Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, GFSSP, or other control, data acquisition, and reduction software

• Working knowledge of manufacturing, fabrication, integration, and quality control relevant to fluid components

• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and technical writing skills

• Proven ability to rapidly develop solutions with partially defined or evolving requirements

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or an equivalent field

• 5+ years of experience developing launch vehicle propulsion systems

• Demonstrated experience of full hardware lifecycle ownership, from blank-sheet design through full operation

• Strong understanding in engineering fundamentals of propulsion systems and combustion devices

• In-depth knowledge of cryogenic, high-pressure, or high-temperature system operations and compatible material selection

• Experience with fluid system subcomponent or pressurized component development, design, or testing

• Experience testing or operating complex engineering systems

• Experience with data acquisition systems and test instrumentation including pressure transducers, thermocouples, RTDs, flow meters, load cells, and accelerometers

• Experience optimizing design of hardware for improvements in reliability, manufacturability, performance, cost, and simplicity

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.

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.