Firefly Space Systems

Mechanical Engineer II (Propulsion Valves)

Firefly Space Systems$95K — $115K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • BS in Aerospace Engineering or related field
  • 3+ years in valve or fluid system design
  • Strong grasp of engineering fundamentals (fluid mechanics, heat transfer, etc.)
  • Expertise in fluid system sizing, valve design, and instrumentation
  • Skilled in analytical/numerical modeling of engineering systems
  • Proven project management abilities
  • Collaborative team player in a fast-paced environment
  • Self-starter with minimal direction
  • Innovative problem solver

Responsibilities

  • Take full ownership of hardware throughout its lifecycle
  • Design and deliver propulsion components for high-performance systems
  • Act as the technical expert for development and production support
  • Manage both custom and commercial valves, regulators, and actuators
  • Lead various design reviews and technical meetings
  • Create and execute rigorous test plans with hands-on troubleshooting
  • Standardize engineering solutions across projects
  • Enhance mission efficiency by reducing costs and risks
  • Lead cross-functional teams to deliver hardware on schedule
  • Address product non-conformances with corrective design changes
  • Collaborate with teams on hardware upgrades to meet performance and cost benchmarks
  • Develop simulation methods validated by testing
  • Conduct root cause analysis for failures and apply preventive measures
  • Qualify products per industry regulations and best practices
  • Juggle multiple projects and changing priorities

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance with low deductibles
  • Parental leave policy
  • Educational reimbursement for ongoing learning
  • Short-term disability insurance
  • Flexible PTO options for work-life balance
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 propulsion 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 Space Systems

Firefly Space Systems was an American aerospace manufacturer based in Cedar Park, Texas. The company was founded in 2013 with the goal of developing low-cost launch vehicles for the small satellite industry. Firefly's Alpha rocket was designed to carry payloads of up to 1,000 kg to low Earth orbit. The company was acquired by EOS Launcher in 2017 and is now known as Firefly Aerospace. Firefly Aerospace is continuing the development of the Alpha rocket and is also working on a larger rocket called Beta, which is designed to carry payloads of up to 8,000 kg to low Earth orbit. Firefly Aerospace is committed to providing affordable access to space for small satellite operators.
Learn more about Firefly Space Systems
Industry
Founded
2013

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