Propulsion Engineer II (Spacecraft Fluids) 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.

About the Role

The Propulsion Fluid Systems team designs, integrates, and operates all fluid subsystems across Firefly's spacecraft. As a Responsible Engineer, you will work across the full lifecycle of hardware for the Blue Ghost and Elytra spacecraft, including requirements definition, design, analysis, development, test, and qualification. You will lead CAD design and analysis efforts, collaborate with fabrication and integration teams to build and assemble systems, and support vehicle testing and launch operations.

You will have deep technical knowledge, ownership of hardware from concept to flight, and clear communication with cross-functional partners including structures, propulsion, avionics, and vehicle systems. You will be a self-starter who challenges assumptions, thrives in fast-paced development, and makes impactful contributions to Firefly's mission.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate full ownership of spacecraft fluid system requirements, design, and analysis from concept through flight.
• Lead development of innovative design concepts for propulsion integration and operations that reduce complexity and maximize reliability within program constraints.
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for all spacecraft fluid systems.
• Author and present detailed design review presentations to internal and external stakeholders.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute development, qualification, and acceptance testing of flight hardware, including data analysis and reviews.
• Implement design-for-manufacturability improvements to increase production efficiency and vehicle reliability.
• Identify system-level risks, perform trade studies, and drive decisions to ensure successful vehicle operation.
• Develop and maintain automation tools and test data analysis capabilities.
• Support vehicle test and flight campaigns by providing console operations support.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and integration teams to develop processes, work instructions, and test procedures, and provide direct build support.
• Drive development of efficient test and flight operations for fluid systems and assist with troubleshooting during vehicle operations.

Required Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related engineering discipline
• 3+ years of experience in fluid systems engineering and/or propulsion
• Thorough understanding of fluid dynamics and thermodynamics
• Experience with tube or pipe design and layout
• Proficiency in modeling and analysis tools (CAD, FEA, CFD, MATLAB, Python)
• Deep knowledge of engineering fundamentals and demonstrated history of applying first principles to arrive at simple, robust solutions
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and technical writing skills
• Hands-on experience with hardware design, fabrication, and testing
• Working knowledge of manufacturing, fabrication, integration, and quality control relevant to fluid components (machining, inspection, assembly, testing, etc.)
• Knowledge of fluid components such as valves, regulators, pressure transducers, tubing, pressurized hardware, seals, and instrumentation; experience performing fluid systems sizing analysis
• Ability to rapidly develop solutions with partially defined or evolving requirements

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent field
• 5+ years of experience developing launch vehicle or spacecraft propulsion systems
• Knowledge of material selection and best practices for hypergolic systems
• Experience with fluid system subcomponent or pressurized component development, design, or testing (valves, regulators, piping systems, pumps, etc.)
• Experience with data acquisition systems and test instrumentation including pressure transducers, thermocouples, RTDs, flow meters, load cells, and accelerometers
• Experience conducting tubing/piping flexibility analysis using software such as Ansys, Caesar II, Bentley Autopipe, etc.
• Experience reducing complexity of large integrated assemblies to reduce part count, cost, and lead time
• Demonstrated experience with full hardware lifecycle ownership, from blank-sheet design through full operation

Employment Requirements

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 of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.