Firefly Aerospace

Mechanical Engineer II (Propulsion Valves)

Firefly Aerospace$80K — $110K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • BS in Aerospace Engineering or equivalent degree
  • 3+ years in valve or fluid system design role
  • Strong understanding of fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and structural analysis
  • Proficient in designing and sizing fluid systems and components
  • Ability to create analytical/numerical models of engineering processes
  • Experience managing complex projects efficiently
  • Demonstrated self-motivation and ability to work in a fast-paced environment

Responsibilities

  • Demonstrate extreme ownership of hardware and support the production lifecycle
  • Conceptualize and deliver propulsion components for high-performance systems
  • Lead technical discussions and prepare for key design reviews
  • Author and execute qualification and acceptance test plans
  • Identify cost-saving measures to improve mission cadence
  • Lead cross-functional teams to ensure timely delivery of tested hardware
  • Manage projects and resolve non-conformances for better product yield

Benefits

  • Generous health, dental, and vision plans with low deductibles
  • Parental leave and educational reimbursement available
  • Short-term disability coverage provided
  • Flexible PTO options to balance work and life
  • Support for professional development and career advancement
Full Job Description
SUMMARY

At Firefly, we believe that building a reliable and inexpensive launch vehicle requires the most reliable, production efficient valves available. On the fluid components team, we design, build, test, and qualify high-performance, precision fluid components tailored to the specific needs of our Alpha launch vehicle, Eclipse launch vehicle, Blue Ghost lunar landers, and Elytra spacecraft. Our team of responsible engineers own their products for the entire product lifecycle; from initial conception through qualification and handoff to the production team.

RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Demonstrate extreme ownership of hardware
  • Conceptualize, design, develop and deliver propulsion components to high performance systems
  • Responsible for entire development lifecycle and production support as the technical expert.
  • Own a combination of Firefly developed and commercial-off-the-shelf (COTs) valves, regulators and actuators
  • Prepare content for and lead CoDRs, MRR, PDRs, TRRs, data reviews and CDRs
  • Author and execute qualification, and acceptance test plans with hands on hardware problem solving
  • Work to standardize solutions across programs and product lines
  • Improve mission cadence by identifying and implementing cost saving and risk reduction measures
  • Lead cross-functional teams of analysts, manufacturing engineers, quality engineers, supply chain representatives, and test engineers to deliver tested hardware on time
  • Resolve non-conformances and implement design changes to improve product yield and manufacturability
  • Work with the program teams to develop hardware upgrades in alignment with ambitious performance and cost goals
  • Develop simulation-based design methods and validate using subscale and full-scale testing
  • Lead failure investigations to determine root cause and implement mitigations
  • Qualify existing and new product lines following guidance from SMC-S-016 and S-080 as applicable
  • Manage multiple projects and competing priorities


QUALIFICATIONS

Required
  • BS in Aerospace Engineering or related engineering discipline
  • 3+ years of experience in a valve or fluid system design-related role.
  • Exceptional comprehension of engineering fundamentals including fluid mechanics, heat transfer, structural analysis, materials, and processes.
  • Strong understanding of fluid systems aspects such as fluids systems sizing, valve design and operation, instrumentation, flexible element design & integration and fluid fittings
  • Skilled in creating analytical/numerical models of engineering devices and processes.
  • Ability to successfully manage complex projects.
  • Works well in a collaborative, fast paced, multidisciplinary environment.
  • Demonstrated interest in advancing 'newspace'.
  • Self-motivated with minimum direction required.
  • Ability to creatively develop economical solutions.


Desired
  • Served as a Responsible, Manufacturing or Test engineer for an aerospace development project in a fluids related subsystem.
  • Component test experience.
  • Proficient with GD&T
  • Proficient with DFM
  • Proficient with FEA and/or CFD analysis
  • Knowledge of high-pressure, cryogenic, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems
  • Experience with valve and regulator design
  • Experience with liquid oxygen or other cryogenic operations
  • Experience modeling fluid networks
  • Experience with rapid development techniques for hardware


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

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Firefly Aerospace

More Aerospace & Defense Jobs

Find similar Mechanical Engineer II (Propulsion Valves) jobs: