Spacecraft Propulsion Engineer I (Valves) Verified today
About Firefly Aerospace
Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company building reliable, inexpensive launch vehicles and lunar landers. 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 fluid components team, you will design, build, test, and qualify high-performance precision fluid components for Firefly's Alpha launch vehicle, Eclipse launch vehicle, Blue Ghost lunar landers, and Elytra spacecraft. Engineers on this team own their products for the entire lifecycle: from initial conception through qualification and handoff to production.
Your Responsibilities
- Demonstrate extreme ownership of hardware from conception to production
- Conceptualize, design, develop and deliver propulsion components to high-performance systems
- Own a combination of Firefly-developed and commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) valves, regulators and actuators
- Prepare content for and lead CoDRs, MRRs, PDRs, TRRs, data reviews and CDRs
- Author and execute qualification and acceptance test plans with hands-on hardware problem solving
- Standardize solutions across programs and product lines
- Identify and implement cost-saving and risk-reduction measures
- Lead cross-functional teams of analysts, manufacturing engineers, quality engineers, supply chain representatives, and test engineers
- Resolve non-conformances and implement design changes to improve product yield and manufacturability
- 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 SMC-S-016 and S-080 guidance as applicable
- Manage multiple projects and competing priorities
Required Qualifications
- BS in Aerospace Engineering or related engineering discipline
- Internship experience in a valve or fluid system design-related role
- 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
- Collaborative approach in fast-paced multidisciplinary environments
- Demonstrated interest in advancing newspace
- Self-motivated with minimum direction required
- Ability to creatively develop economical solutions
Desired Qualifications
- 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
Export Control Requirement
To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations including 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 generous health, dental and vision plans with low deductibles, parental leave, educational reimbursement, short-term disability, and flexible PTO options.