Propulsion Engineer

Firefly Aerospace Propulsion Engineer

As an end-to-end responsive space transportation company, Firefly Aerospace is on a mission to enable our world to launch, land, and operate in space anywhere, anytime. Our launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide government and commercial customers with full mission services from low Earth orbit to the surface of 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.

About The Role

On the Miranda propulsion engineering team, we are responsible for designing, developing, and testing the Miranda first stage engine for Firefly's Eclipse vehicle. We are directly responsible for developing an engine that meets vehicle performance and quality requirements on a tight schedule. In this role, you will work across the full lifecycle of hardware, including requirements definition, design, analysis, development, test, and qualification of the engine system. The core engine team requires deep technical knowledge, extreme ownership, and clear communication with our cross-functional teams. The successful candidate will have a strong interest in flight hardware ownership, will be extremely adaptable to new challenges, and has a strong desire to make impactful contributions to Firefly's next launch vehicle. This role is primarily responsible for designing and releasing the integrated engine system including complete fluids systems and secondary structures interfacing with engine and vehicle hardware.

Responsibilities

Responsible for producing and releasing Miranda fluids system designs interfacing with integrated combustion devices, turbomachinery, valves, fluid systems, TVC, and avionics components.

Own and execute development, qualification, and acceptance testing of engine systems and sub-systems.

Responsible for close coordination with other engineers, production team members, and Quality department to produce and release numerous engine sub-assembly and component drawings that maximize performance and reduce manufacturing complexity.

Maintain multiple, controlled revisions of the engine CAD as component designs are traded in analysis and iterated in development testing.

Provide hands-on support for development engine builds to iterate and improve engine design and layout.

Develop and maintain engine interfaces. Participate in test stand and vehicle installation procedures and improve them as needed.

Communicate risks and trade solutions to minimize risk of failure in development, manufacturing, test and flight.

Qualifications

Required

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent.

5+ years experience with CAD and configuration management tools (Siemens NX and Teamcenter preferred).

Experience working within large CAD assemblies.

Familiarity with GD&T fundamentals, applications, and tolerance stackups.

Strong background in mechanical design and metallic manufacturing techniques including subtractive and additive machining, welding, and inspection.

Understanding of bipropellant liquid rocket fundamentals and ability to collaborate with subject matter experts to maximize engine performance.

Knowledge of material selection for cryogenic, high pressure, and high temperature systems as well as Oxygen-compatible materials.

Knowledge of fluid components such as valves, regulators, pressure transducers, tubing, pressurized hardware, seals, and instrumentation and experience performing fluid systems sizing analysis with such components.

History of developing solutions with partially defined requirements and changing criteria.

Desired Qualifications

Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent field

Experience with liquid rocket or in space propulsion engines or systems.

Experience in aerospace flight production programs.

Knowledge of multi-disciplinary CAD modules and interfaces (pipe routing, electrical routing, sheet metal, etc.).

Experience and interest in automating virtual workflows and tools.

Experience reducing the complexity of large integrated assemblies to reduce part count, cost, and lead time.

Full hardware lifecycle ownership from blank sheet design to full operation.