Manager, Engineering

Firefly Aerospace•Cedar Park, TX

About The Position

Firefly Aerospace is hiring a Mechanical Engineering Manager for Ground Systems to lead the mechanical and structural engineering of its mechanical ground support equipment (MGSE). The role oversees systems across test stands, launch sites, vehicle integration hardware, and production and integration facilities, including hydraulic systems, handling equipment, and structures used to support safe testing, integration, and launch operations. The manager leads a team of 15+ engineers, designers, and technical staff and is accountable for delivering complex projects from concept through commissioning and operational handover. The role combines technical authority and people leadership. It includes making design and trade-off decisions; reviewing structural analyses, designs, calculations, and documentation; overseeing testing and commissioning; and supporting systems in active operations. The manager coordinates with internal engineering, fabrication, test, launch, integration, safety, quality, procurement, and program teams, as well as vendors, consultants, customers, and external stakeholders. Projects require balancing performance, cost, schedule, and risk while supporting current and future operational needs.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or a related engineering or technical discipline.
At least 5 years of mechanical engineering experience in aerospace, oil and gas, defense, or similar industries.
Strong background in structural analysis and design of steel structures.
Proficiency with CAD software such as NX or similar.
Experience with FEA software such as ANSYS or similar for structural analysis.
Understanding of structural steel design per AISC specifications and AWS D1.1.
Experience managing and delivering complex technical projects.
Ability to manage budgets, schedules, and resources across a portfolio of projects.
Knowledge of materials science, including metallurgy, corrosion, and material selection.
Strong problem-solving skills and sound engineering judgment.
Understanding of manufacturing processes, including welding, machining, and fabrication.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with evolving requirements and tight deadlines.
Flexibility to support critical operations, including extended hours and occasional travel.
U.S. Person status required due to ITAR/EAR requirements; the posting identifies U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees as qualifying categories.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or a similar technical field.
7–10 years of experience in aerospace, defense, oil and gas, or similar industries.
Direct experience with aerospace launch or test.
Professional Engineer (PE) license in Mechanical Engineering.
Knowledge of NASA-STD-5005.
Experience with AS9100 aerospace quality management systems.
Experience with dynamic analysis, including vibration, shock, and seismic design.
Background in human-rated systems and fault-tolerant design.
Experience with Odoo ERP or similar enterprise systems.
Experience evaluating designs for additive manufacturing and other advanced fabrication techniques.
Previous experience managing engineering teams in startup or high-growth environments.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage an MGSE engineering team of 15+ mechanical engineers, designers, and technical staff; recruit, develop, coach, and review team members; and establish goals, succession plans, and career paths.
Foster technical excellence, innovation, collaboration, and accountability, and build cross-functional relationships with engineering, fabrication, test, launch, integration, and vehicle teams.
Own mechanical design and engineering for MGSE, including structures, handling equipment, integration jibs, test adapters, transport fixtures, and lift equipment.
Manage designs for cranes, hoists, transporters, and positioning systems, ensuring they meet performance requirements, safety standards, and regulatory requirements.
Oversee concurrent MGSE projects from concept through commissioning and operational handover; develop schedules, resource plans, and budgets; track progress and risks; and coordinate deliverables with program and project managers.
Make trade-off decisions balancing technical performance, cost, schedule, and risk; forecast engineering labor, schedules, and technical risks; manage support requests and scope changes; and ensure change control.
Serve as technical authority for mechanical engineering decisions; review and approve designs, calculations, drawings, and specifications; facilitate requirements, concept, preliminary, critical design, and concept-of-operations reviews; and resolve technical conflicts.
Challenge requirements where they create undue difficulty, cost, or delivery delays; promote design for manufacturability, assembly, and maintenance; and advance engineering best practices, lessons learned, and design methodologies.
Work with Safety and Quality teams on risk assessments and mitigation strategies.
Verify structural analyses and designs for test stands, launch infrastructure, and GSE structures; manage FEA of components under mechanical, thermal, and dynamic loads; and direct foundation, anchor bolt, support structure, and seismic restraint design.
Ensure structures withstand rocket exhaust plumes, acoustic loads, and environmental conditions; review calculations, load cases, and safety factors; and coordinate foundation and civil work with third-party civil engineers.
Establish MGSE design standards, specifications, and engineering processes with Firefly Systems Engineering; ensure quality drawings and documentation; maintain configuration management, change control, design databases, and lessons-learned records; and ensure compliance with applicable industry codes.
Manage vendor, fabrication contractor, and engineering consultant relationships; review proposals, specifications, and estimates; conduct technical evaluations and source selection; oversee vendor reviews and submittals; monitor vendor performance; and qualify suppliers.
Coordinate integrated system design with I&C and Fluids Engineering; collaborate with GSE Production on fabrication and installation; and work with internal customers, GSE leadership, Procurement, customers, and stakeholders on requirements, schedules, resources, materials, and technical reviews.
Support commissioning, mechanical proofing, functional testing, system activation, checkout, initial operations, test campaigns, and operational troubleshooting; conduct post-commissioning reviews and implement design improvements.
Develop long-term MGSE capability roadmaps, identify technology gaps, benchmark industry practices, lead continuous improvement, and support business development with technical assessments and capability briefings.