Propulsion Engineer I (Spacecraft Fluids) Verified today

About Firefly Aerospace

Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company on a mission to reliably launch, land, and operate space systems from Earth to the Moon and beyond. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly was the first commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the first to achieve a successful Moon landing.

About the Role

The Propulsion Fluid Systems team designs, integrates, and operates all fluid subsystems across Firefly's spacecraft. As a Propulsion Engineer I, you will own the full lifecycle of fluid systems for the Blue Ghost and Elytra spacecraft, including requirements definition, design, analysis, development, test, and qualification. You will lead CAD design and analysis efforts, collaborate with fabrication and integration teams, and support vehicle testing and launch operations.

You will have deep technical knowledge of spacecraft fluid systems, clear communication with cross-functional partners in structures, propulsion, avionics, and vehicle systems, and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced development environment.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate full ownership of spacecraft fluid system requirements, design, and analysis from concept through flight.
• Lead development of innovative design concepts for propulsion integration and operations that reduce complexity and maximize reliability.
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for all spacecraft fluid systems.
• Author and present detailed design review presentations to internal and external stakeholders.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute development, qualification, and acceptance testing of flight hardware, including data analysis and reviews.
• Implement design-for-manufacturability improvements to increase production efficiency and vehicle reliability.
• Identify system-level risks, perform trade studies, and drive decisions to ensure successful vehicle operation.
• Develop and maintain automation tools and test data analysis capabilities.
• Support vehicle test and flight campaigns by providing console operations support.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and integration teams to develop processes, work instructions, and test procedures, and provide direct build support.
• Drive development of efficient test and flight operations for fluid systems and assist with troubleshooting during vehicle operations.

Required Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related engineering discipline
• 1+ years of experience in fluid systems engineering and/or propulsion
• Thorough understanding of fluid dynamics and thermodynamics
• Experience with tube or pipe design and layout
• Proficiency in modeling and analysis tools such as CAD, FEA, CFD, MATLAB, or Python
• Deep knowledge of engineering fundamentals and demonstrated history of applying first principles to arrive at simple, robust solutions
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and technical writing skills
• Hands-on experience with hardware design, fabrication, and testing
• Working knowledge of manufacturing, fabrication, integration, and quality control relevant to fluid components including machining, inspection, assembly, and testing
• Knowledge of fluid components such as valves, regulators, pressure transducers, tubing, pressurized hardware, seals, and instrumentation; experience performing fluid systems sizing analysis with such components

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent field
• 2+ years of experience developing launch vehicle or spacecraft propulsion systems
• Knowledge of material selection and best practices for hypergolic systems
• Experience with fluid system subcomponent or pressurized component development, design, or testing such as valves, regulators, piping systems, or pumps
• Experience working with data acquisition systems and test instrumentation including pressure transducers, thermocouples, RTDs, flow meters, load cells, and accelerometers
• Experience conducting tubing and piping flexibility analysis using software such as Ansys, Caesar II, or Bentley Autopipe
• Experience reducing complexity of large integrated assemblies to reduce part count, cost, and lead time
• Demonstrated experience with full hardware lifecycle ownership from blank-sheet design through operation

Employment Information

U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual, or eligible to obtain required authorization from the U.S. Department of State required to comply with ITAR space technology export regulations.

Firefly offers health, dental, and vision plans with low deductibles, parental leave, educational reimbursement, short-term disability, and flexible PTO options.