Fluids Engineer III Verified today
About the role
As a Fluids Ground Support Equipment (FGSE) Engineer at Firefly, you'll own the complete lifecycle of critical fluid systems at launch sites, test stands, and production facilities. You will design and build large complex fluid systems, including incompressible, cryogenics, propellants, and high-pressure gas systems. You'll solve real-world problems alongside skilled technicians, welders, and cross-functional teams. From architecture trades and detailed designs through fabrication, installation, and activation, you'll be the technical decision-maker ensuring Firefly's infrastructure meets current and future needs.
This role offers exposure across Firefly's entire fleet: Alpha, Eclipse, Elytra, and Blue Ghost.
Responsibilities
- Design, analyze, and build test stand and launch pad fluid systems, including incompressible, cryogenic, and high-pressure gas systems
- Own the full design cycle of fluid systems: schematics, P&IDs, component sizing, BOMs, CAD, procurement, and engineering drawings
- Work directly with technicians and welders to schedule, prepare, build designs and troubleshoot real-world problems
- Participate in and lead internal design reviews, operational readiness reviews, and external design reviews
- Mentor early career engineers and develop engineering tools and processes
- Travel to test and launch sites as required to support build and commissioning of new and upgraded fluid systems
Required qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or equivalent
- 5-10 years recent professional experience with fluid systems, pneumatics, hydraulics, or HVAC systems in design, assembly, test, or operations
- Thorough understanding of fluid dynamics and thermodynamics
- Solid understanding of fluid components: valves, regulators, pressure transducers, tubing, tanks, pressurized hardware, seals, and instrumentation
- Experience with fluid system subcomponent or pressurized component development, design, or testing
- Working knowledge of manufacturing, fabrication, integration and quality control relevant to fluid components
- Demonstrated ability to do clean sheet designs of pressurization systems, propellant systems, or other complex multidisciplinary systems
- Experience creating P&IDs, performing fluid system sizing, fluid component and instrumentation selection, and pressurized system design
- Experience using fluids analysis tools such as REFPROP, GFSSP or other computer-based fluid dynamic modeling
- Proficient with 3D and 2D CAD software such as Siemens NX
- Capable of balancing detailed design tasks with project management style tasks including budgeting, scheduling, and communications
- Able to travel in support of GSE build and activation up to 30% of the time
Desired qualifications
- Advanced degree in mechanical, aerospace, or equivalent field
- Direct hands-on experience building, troubleshooting, and/or operating complex fluid or mechanical systems
- Cryogenic system design and/or operational experience
- Hypergolic system design and/or operational experience
- Experience working in an aerospace, R&D, or oil and gas environment
- Familiarity with ASME, NASA, and AFSPCMAN standards for fluid system design including ASME B31.3, ASME BPVC Section VIII, and/or AFSPCMAN 91-710
- Direct experience with design and build of ground systems (GSE) or related fluid systems including test environments, fluid or gas conditioning and storage, manufacturing processes, and compressible gases
Benefits
Firefly offers health, dental and vision plans with low deductibles, parental leave, educational reimbursement, short term disability, and flexible PTO options.