Composites Manufacturing Engineer Lead

Firefly Aerospace•Briggs, TX

About The Position

Firefly Aerospace is seeking a highly motivated Manufacturing Engineer to join its Structures Department. The role contributes to development of the world’s largest liquid-fueled all-composite rocket and implementation of full-rate production across current vehicles and programs. Working within a small, fast-paced team, the engineer develops tooling and fixtures for development and production programs, drives continuous improvement, optimizes existing processes, develops new processes, and provides technical expertise to strengthen production capabilities. The position calls for an engineering background, extensive practical problem-solving experience, and the ability to learn quickly. The role leads team tasking and priorities, serves as Integrated Product Lead for the Manufacturing team, and coaches team members in complex problem-solving. It owns hardware development and production processes and oversees manufacturing programs to meet quality, cost, and schedule requirements. The engineer works closely with design, manufacturing, quality, and production teams to integrate hardware into production, resolve nonconformances, improve quality and efficiency, and support timely delivery of aerospace components.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering field.
10 years of experience in carbon-fiber composite aerospace manufacturing.
Strong technical aptitude and ability to quickly become an expert on complex hardware.
Proficiency in CAD software for tooling and fixturing design.
Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
Demonstrated record of driving process improvements and delivering results in a fast-paced environment.
High initiative and self-motivation, with ability to thrive in a dynamic and challenging work environment.
Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities.
For compliance with U.S. Government space-technology export regulations, 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.

Nice To Haves

Five or more years working in an aerospace manufacturing or engineering environment with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, or a similar field.
Master’s degree.
Automated Fiber Placement experience.
Quick-turn custom composite tooling design and fabrication experience.
Six Sigma or Lean manufacturing Black Belt certification.

Responsibilities

Manage team-member tasking and priorities based on schedule IMS needs.
Act as Integrated Product Lead for the Manufacturing team.
Train and coach team members on complex problem-solving.
Lead the design and development of tooling, fixtures, and production equipment for aerospace composite components, selecting suitable materials and manufacturing processes to meet aerospace standards.
Evaluate and improve manufacturing processes, tooling, and fixtures to optimize efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness; increase production capacity and reduce cycle times.
Own hardware development and production processes, ensuring schedule adherence and driving continuous improvement.
Develop and implement tooling and fixturing solutions that improve manufacturing efficiency and quality.
Serve as the primary point of contact for part expertise, understanding hardware intricacies and guiding fabrication.
Support manufacturing-floor operations by working with production teams to identify improvement opportunities and implement changes.
Create work instructions and procedures to standardize manufacturing processes and ensure consistent product quality.
Lead nonconformance resolution by assessing root causes and implementing corrective actions to bring parts into compliance.
Work with design, manufacturing, and quality teams to integrate work into the production process.
Manage manufacturing programs to meet quality, cost, and schedule requirements.
Identify production challenges and implement solutions to enable timely delivery of high-quality aerospace components.
Implement and maintain quality-control measures that meet industry standards and customer expectations.
Identify cost-saving opportunities and participate in cost-reduction initiatives while maintaining product integrity.
Promote continuous improvement and apply Lean and Six Sigma principles throughout manufacturing.
Mentor less experienced engineers.