Spacecraft Functional Test Engineer II 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 company to achieve a successful Moon landing.
The Role
You will join the Assembly, Test and Launch Operations (ATLO) organization as a Spacecraft Functional Test Engineer II, playing a key role in verifying spacecraft performance from integration through launch. This is a hands-on, highly cross-functional role blending test architecture design, software-driven test execution, and real-time problem solving during vehicle integration and environmental testing.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute spacecraft functional and system-level test procedures to verify vehicle performance and mission readiness.
- Design and maintain automated test scripts, configurations, and architectures to support efficient test execution across multiple programs.
- Collaborate with subsystem responsible engineers and chief engineers to define test requirements and ensure traceability to verification objectives.
- Support Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) testbed development and maintenance, including defining configurations and integrating hardware/software interfaces.
- Monitor and troubleshoot test results, identifying issues and driving root cause resolution across subsystems.
- Plan and support test operations in cleanroom, environmental, and launch site environments.
- Contribute to data management, telemetry visualization, and results analysis to ensure comprehensive verification and documentation.
- Participate in continuous improvement efforts to streamline test processes, increase automation, and enhance test reliability.
- Support development of tools, dashboards, and analytics for test performance tracking and data-driven decision making.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace, Computer Engineering, or related field.
- 2+ years of experience in spacecraft, aerospace, or complex electromechanical system test environments.
- Hands-on experience developing or executing functional or system-level test procedures.
- Familiarity with test automation frameworks and scripting languages (e.g., Python, C++, or similar).
- Working knowledge of hardware/software interfaces, data acquisition, and telemetry systems.
- Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills with ability to work across multiple engineering disciplines.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative environment supporting multiple spacecraft programs.
Desired Qualifications
- Experience with spacecraft-level testing, including power-on, system checkout, and mission simulation campaigns.
- Familiarity with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) systems, EGSE design, or simulation environments.
- Experience supporting transition from prototype to production-style test operations.
- Background in test data visualization or analytics (e.g., Power BI, Grafana, or custom dashboards).
- Knowledge of software development practices, including version control, code review, and basic code readability.
- Familiarity with continuous improvement and process optimization principles applied to test operations.
- Experience with environmental test coordination, launch campaign support, or post-environmental functional testing.
What We Offer
Generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, educational reimbursement, short term disability, and flexible PTO options.
Export Control Requirement
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including 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 required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.