Fluids Engineer III

Job description

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 As a Fluids Ground Support Equipment (FGSE) Engineer at Firefly, you'll own the complete lifecycle of critical fluid systems at our launch sites, test stands, and production facilities. You'll work in a dynamic and collaborative environment designing and building large complex fluid systems, including incompressible, cryogenics, propellants, and high-pressure gas systems. You’ll be solving real-world problems in real-time alongside skilled technicians, welders, and cross-functional teams. From architecture trades and detailed designs through fabrication, installation, and activation, you'll be the technical decision-maker ensuring Firefly's launch sites and test stands meet the current and future needs for each of Firefly’s programs. This role offers exposure across Firefly's entire fleet - Alpha, Eclipse, Elytra, and Blue Ghost - giving you an unparalleled breadth of experiences and challenges as you help define the next generation of test and launch infrastructure. RESPONSIBILITIES Design, analyze, and build test stand and launch pad fluid systems, including incompressible, cryogenic, and high-pressure gas systems Own the full design cycle of your fluid systems, including generating schematics and P&IDs, sizing components, generating BOMs, creating CAD, procuring hardware, and generating drawings Work directly with technicians and welders to schedule, prepare, and build your designs and fix real-world problems Participate in and lead internal design reviews, operational readiness reviews, and represent Firefly during external design reviews Mentor early career engineers on the team and further develop engineering tools and processes Travel to test and launch sites, as required, to support build and commissioning of new and upgraded fluid system QUALIFICATIONS Required Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or equivalent 5-10 years of recent experience in a professional setting outside the classroom with fluid systems, pneumatics, hydraulics, or HVAC systems in a design, assembly, test, or operations capacity Thorough understanding of fluid dynamics and thermodynamics Solid understanding of fluid components such as valves, regulators, pressure transducers, tubing, tanks, pressurized hardware, seals, and instrumentation Experience with fluid system subcomponent or pressurized component development, design, or testing (such as valves, regulators, piping systems, pumps, etc..) Working knowledge of manufacturing, fabrication, integration & quality control relevant to fluid components (such as machining, inspection, welding, assembly, testing, etc.) Demonstrated ability to do clean sheet designs of pressurization systems, propellant systems, or other complex multidisciplinary systems Experience creating P&IDs, performing fluid system sizing, fluid component and instrumentation selection, and pressurized system design Experience using fluids analysis tools such as REFPROP, GFSSP or other computer-based fluid dynamic modeling Proficient with 3D & 2D CAD software packages such as Siemens NX Capable of balancing detailed design tasks with higher level project management style tasks, including budgeting, scheduling, and communications Able to travel in support of GSE build and activation up to 30% of the time Desired Advanced degree in mechanical, aerospace, or equivalent field Direct hands-on experience building, troubleshooting, and/or operating complex fluid or mechanical systems Cryogenic system design and/or operational experience Hypergolic system design and/or operational experience Experience working in an aerospace, R&D, or oil & gas environment. Familiarity with ASME, NASA, and AFSPCMAN standards related to fluid system design, such as ASME B31.3, ASME BPVC Section VIII, and/or AFSPCMAN 91-710 Direct experience with design and build of ground systems (GSE) or related fluid systems including, but not limited to test environments, fluid or gas conditioning/storage, manufacturing processes, and compressible gases Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, relocation benefits, educational reimbursement, short term disability, and flexible PTO options. 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. Firefly Aerospace, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Firefly is governed based on merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.