Weld & Tube Shop Operations Manager

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. About the Role This is an exciting time to join Firefly and be part of the Propulsion Manufacturing team! As the Weld & Tube Shop Operations Manager, you will lead the team that welds, fabricates, and precision cleans flight-critical tube assemblies and welded hardware. That includes propellant and pressurant lines, manifolds, valve bodies, and engine components. The shop supports propulsion and vehicle systems across all Firefly programs, including Alpha, MLV, and Spacecraft. This is a challenging and rewarding role focused on improving throughput, quality, and repeatability. You'll do that by setting and analyzing production metrics, bringing structure and standard work to the shop, maintaining welding and cleanliness process compliance, and driving continuous improvement. What You'll Do Lead weld, tube fabrication, and cleaning technicians to deliver quality flight hardware on time and on cost Manage shift schedules and staffing to support critical operations, production, and company goals Enforce shop safety practices, PPE, hot work, gas cylinder handling, and chemical handling for cleaning operations, and keep improving them Ensure all flight TIG and orbital welding is performed to approved weld procedure specifications (WPS), drawings, and detailed work instructions Oversee the full tube fabrication flow: cutting, facing, bending, weld prep, orbital and manual welding, fitting installation, and precision cleaning Own tube and component cleaning operations so hardware meets oxygen/propellant-service cleanliness requirements (particulate, NVR, and verification testing) Own the welder qualification and certification program (e.g., AWS D17.1, ASME Section IX), including tracking qualification expirations and continuity Partner with welding and manufacturing engineering on procedure development, qualification (PQR), orbital weld schedule development, and process changes Coordinate with Quality and NDT (radiography, penetrant, visual/borescope) to resolve weld defects, contamination escapes, nonconformances, and rework quickly Oversee maintenance, calibration, and uptime of orbital weld heads and power supplies, manual GTAW equipment, tube benders, and cleaning systems Manage PTO and timecards Maintain the daily production schedule, share it with the team, and raise issues to leadership Identify and fix bottlenecks, equipment constraints, and material or consumable shortages Partner with the planning team to align on shop capacity and weekly production plans so commitments are feasible and meet program needs Develop KPIs to measure, analyze, and report shop performance, such as first-pass weld yield, weld repair rate, cleanliness rejects, cycle time, and on-time delivery Develop long-term capacity, equipment, and headcount plans, including labor and cost plans that feed annual operating budgets What We're Looking For Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree and 7+ years of overall industry experience; in lieu of a degree, 10+ years of industry experience, including 5+ years in a manufacturing supervisory or management role, will be considered 3+ years of leadership experience in a welding, tube fabrication, or precision manufacturing environment Hands-on familiarity with flight-quality manual TIG (GTAW) welding and orbital tube welding, including weld schedule setup, joint prep, purge practices, and common defect modes Working knowledge of precision cleaning for tubing and components in oxygen or propellant service, and of cleanliness verification methods Working knowledge of weld inspection and of welding codes and standards Experience driving lean manufacturing principles and developing production metrics and processes Able to wear multiple hats and partner cross-functionally, often driving success by influencing without authority and managing competing priorities Desired Qualifications 3+ years of experience within the aerospace/aviation industry AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) or Certified Welding Supervisor (CWS) Experience with AWS D17.1, ASME Section IX, or NASA-STD-5006 weld requirements, and with cleanliness standards such as ASTM G93 or SAE ARP1176 Experience with thin-wall and exotic alloys (Inconel, titanium, stainless, aluminum) Experience with CNC tube bending, tube end prep, and fitting installation Experience setting up a welder qualification program and qualifying weld procedures Experience with component assembly, pressure/leak testing, or launch vehicle hardware 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.