Mechanical Engineer III (Propulsion Valves) Verified today
About Firefly Aerospace
Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company on a mission to reliably and repeatedly 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.
The Role
On the propulsion components team, you will design, build, test, and qualify high-performance, precision fluid components for the Alpha launch vehicle, Eclipse launch vehicle, Blue Ghost lunar landers, and Elytra spacecraft. You will own your products for the entire lifecycle, from initial conception through qualification and handoff to production.
What You Will Do
- Demonstrate extreme ownership of hardware and lead full development lifecycle as the technical expert
- Conceptualize, design, develop and deliver propulsion components including Firefly-developed and commercial-off-the-shelf valves, regulators and actuators
- Prepare content for and lead design reviews (CoDRs, PDRs, CDRs, TRRs)
- Author and execute qualification and acceptance test plans with hands-on hardware problem solving
- Lead cross-functional teams of analysts, manufacturing engineers, quality engineers, supply chain and test engineers
- Develop simulation-based design methods and validate using subscale and full-scale testing
- Resolve non-conformances and implement design changes to improve yield and manufacturability
- Lead failure investigations to determine root cause and implement mitigations
- Qualify product lines following SMC-S-016 and S-080 guidance
- Work to standardize solutions across programs and identify cost-saving and risk-reduction measures
- Manage multiple projects and competing priorities
Required Qualifications
- BS in Aerospace Engineering or related engineering discipline
- 8+ years of experience in valve or fluid system design
- Exceptional comprehension of engineering fundamentals: fluid mechanics, heat transfer, structural analysis, materials, and processes
- Strong understanding of fluid systems sizing, valve design and operation, instrumentation, flexible element design and integration, and fluid fittings
- Skilled in creating analytical and numerical models of engineering devices and processes
- Ability to successfully manage complex projects in collaborative, fast-paced multidisciplinary environments
- Self-motivated with minimum direction required
- Ability to creatively develop economical solutions
Desired Qualifications
- Experience as Responsible Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer or Test Engineer on aerospace fluids subsystems
- Component test experience
- Proficiency with GD&T and DFM
- Proficiency 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
US Person Requirement
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Benefits
Firefly offers health, dental and vision plans with low deductibles, parental leave, educational reimbursement, short-term disability, and flexible PTO.