Firefly Aerospace

Environmental Test & Launch Operations Engineer

Firefly Aerospace$90K — $120K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems Engineering, or related field.
  • 5+ years of experience in spacecraft environmental testing and launch operations.
  • Proven experience planning and executing spacecraft-level environmental tests.
  • Strong grasp of spacecraft handling and launch campaign workflows.
  • Excellent organizational and cross-functional coordination skills.
  • Familiarity with GEVS and range safety compliance documentation.
  • Willingness to travel frequently for offsite tests and launches.

Responsibilities

  • Plan and execute spacecraft environmental test campaigns like vibration and thermal vacuum testing.
  • Develop test procedures, schedules, and readiness documentation for missions.
  • Support hardware handling and setup before and during environmental tests.
  • Monitor tests, assist with troubleshooting, and participate in mission readiness reviews.
  • Coordinate launch site processing and final vehicle preparations.
  • Act as a liaison between various operational teams to ensure smooth campaign execution.
  • Track schedules and readiness status for assigned missions.
  • Support subsystem-level testing, including setup, instrumentation, and data collection.

Benefits

  • Generous health, dental, and vision plans with low deductibles.
  • Parental leave for employees.
  • Educational reimbursement for career development.
  • Short-term disability coverage.
  • Flexible PTO options for better work-life balance.
Full Job Description
SUMMARY

We are seeking a Spacecraft Environmental Test & Launch Operations Engineer to support spacecraft environmental test campaigns and launch site operations across multiple missions. This team owns the planning, coordination, and execution of spacecraft-level environmental testing and launch preparation activities, supporting spacecraft through critical milestones from integration through launch.

This role combines hands-on spacecraft test execution with mission operations coordination and technical planning responsibilities. The ideal candidate is experienced in spacecraft environmental testing and launch operations, thrives in fast-paced operational environments, and is comfortable supporting frequent travel for offsite test and launch campaigns. In addition to spacecraft-level campaigns, this role will support subsystem and component-level environmental testing between major spacecraft operations.

RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Plan, coordinate, and execute spacecraft environmental test campaigns, including vibration, acoustic, EMI/EMC, and thermal vacuum (TVAC) testing.
  • Develop environmental test procedures, execution plans, schedules, operational storyboards, and readiness documentation.
  • Support spacecraft processing activities before, during, and after environmental testing, including hardware handling, transportation, lifting operations, test setup, and configuration management.
  • Monitor test execution, support troubleshooting and anomaly resolution, and participate in mission readiness reviews.
  • Support launch site processing and launch campaign execution, including spacecraft closeouts, fueling support, final vehicle preparations, and coordination with launch providers and mission management teams.
  • Serve as a key operational interface between integration, test, systems engineering, mission management, launch operations, and program teams.
  • Track schedules, risks, constraints, action items, and readiness status for assigned campaigns and missions.
  • Support component and subsystem-level environmental testing, including test setup, instrumentation, facility readiness, data collection, and operational execution.
  • Identify and implement improvements to environmental test operations, launch processing workflows, campaign execution efficiency, and operational standardization.

Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
  • 5+ years of experience supporting spacecraft environmental testing, launch operations, spacecraft integration, or related aerospace activities.
  • Experience planning and executing spacecraft-level environmental test campaigns.
  • Strong understanding of spacecraft handling, test operations, launch campaign workflows, and operational readiness processes.
  • Strong organizational, communication, and cross-functional coordination skills.
  • Familiarity with the General Environmental Verification Standard (GEVS) and AFSPCMAN 91-710 range safety compliance documentation
  • Ability and willingness to travel frequently in support of offsite test and launch campaigns.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience supporting spacecraft Assembly, Integration & Test (AI&T) operations.
  • Experience with TVAC, vibration, acoustic, shock, and EMI/EMC testing.
  • Experience supporting launch site operations and launch campaigns.
  • Experience with hypergolic fueling and SCAPE operations.
  • Familiarity with spacecraft contamination control, hazardous operations, and facility operations.
  • Experience with test instrumentation, data acquisition systems, and environmental test facilities.
  • Experience supporting production-oriented spacecraft programs or mission operations organizations.


Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, educational reimbursement, short term disability, and flexible PTO options.

About Firefly Aerospace

Firefly Aerospace is an aerospace and defense company that develops and manufactures launch vehicles for the small satellite market. The company was founded in 2014 by Tom Markusic and Max Polyakov. Firefly's launch vehicles are designed to provide affordable and reliable access to space for small satellite operators. The company's flagship product is the Alpha rocket, which is capable of delivering payloads of up to 1,000 kg to low Earth orbit. Firefly is backed by a group of investors, including DADA Holdings, Noosphere Ventures, and Astera Institute.
Learn more about Firefly Aerospace
Industry
Founded
2014

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