Your space-enabled career begins here

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE

Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company that enables our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the only commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the only company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Our launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide government and commercial customers with full mission services from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space.

SUMMARY

The Firefly Propulsion Manufacturing Engineering (ME) Team is responsible for the fabrication, integration, test, and delivery of engines and fluid systems to vehicle and spacecraft programs. The individual MEs take profound ownership of propulsion hardware from the time the design is released through production and delivery of a completed product.

This Senior Manufacturing Engineer role is focused on propulsion valves and fluid system components, supporting complex high-pressure and cryogenic hardware used in flight systems. Propulsion MEs are makers — people who can take an idea on paper and turn it into a fully functioning, production-ready component. This role works closely with design, test, and technician teams to ensure valve and component hardware is manufacturable, repeatable, cost-effective, and flight worthy.

This role is located at our manufacturing and test site in Briggs, TX, north of Cedar Park.

RESPONSIBILITIES

· Lead the transition of valve and fluid component products from development to stable production

· Own end-to-end fabrication, assembly, integration, and checkout processes for propulsion valves and fluid system components

· Drive manufacturability reviews for valve and component designs, including tolerance strategy, materials selection feedback, and assembly approach

· Partner closely with design engineering to implement DFM improvements and production-driven design changes

· Develop, qualify, and scale manufacturing processes for complex fluid and valve hardware

· Lead investigations of manufacturing and test failures; perform root cause analysis and implement corrective actions

· Disposition non-conformances and drive permanent corrective and preventive actions

· Own assembly, integration, and manufacturing instructions; continuously improve build documentation and technician usability

· Develop and execute component and subassembly functional checkout and acceptance processes

· Support and help define component and valve test methods and acceptance criteria

· Apply GD&T interpretation and tolerance stack understanding to manufacturing and assembly challenges

· Use analytical and data-driven methods to evaluate process capability, yield, and performance trends

· Support cross-functional project execution across manufacturing, test, quality, and design teams

· Drive continuous improvement initiatives to increase production rate, reduce cost, and improve reliability

· Model and analyze manufacturing and process behavior where useful to predict risk and improve outcomes

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

· Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical field

· 5+ years of experience in a Manufacturing Engineering role supporting complex mechanical or fluid system hardware

· Strong experience with complex assemblies in aerospace, aviation, automotive, or similar high-reliability industries

· Strong understanding of fluid system components and valve hardware, including operation, assembly, and integration considerations

· Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, GD&T, and assembly documentation

· Proven experience with complex troubleshooting and root cause investigation

· Experience supporting hardware through development, build, and test cycles

· Ability to manage complex technical projects with high ownership and accountability

· Proven experience working in fast-paced, multidisciplinary environments

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills for manufacturing and troubleshooting methodologies

· Strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills — must be a collaborative team player

· Demonstrated ability to work with high autonomy and minimal direction

· High attention to detail and sustained technical focus

· Ability to thrive in high-stakes, short-deadline environments

· Strong critical thinking and decision-making ability

· Demonstrated interest in aerospace or “new space” propulsion systems

Desired

· 7–10+ years of experience in an aerospace production environment

· Experience supporting valve, regulator, or fluid component hardware in manufacturing or test

· Experience serving as responsible manufacturing or test engineer on a fluids-related aerospace subsystem

· Component or subassembly test experience

· Proficiency with GD&T application and tolerance analysis

· Proficiency with Design for Manufacturability (DFM) methods

· Experience with advanced manufacturing techniques (welding, brazing, casting, additive fabrication, forging, spin forming, etc.)

· Knowledge of high-pressure, cryogenic, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems

· Experience with cryogenic operations (LOX or similar)

· Familiarity with FEA and/or CFD analysis results and how they inform manufacturing decisions

· Experience modeling or analyzing fluid networks or component performance

· Experience writing assembly and manufacturing procedures for mechanical or fluid systems

· Experience writing test plans, procedures, and pass/fail criteria

· Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement methods

· Knowledge of data analysis tools (Python or advanced Excel) preferred