Propulsion Engineer I (Spacecraft Fluids)

Firefly Aerospace•Cedar Park, TX

32d

About The Position

The Propulsion Fluid Systems team designs, integrates, and operates fluid subsystems across Firefly spacecraft. As a Responsible Engineer, the Propulsion Engineer I works across the full hardware lifecycle, including requirements definition, design, analysis, development, testing, and qualification of fluid systems for the Blue Ghost and Elytra spacecraft. The role leads CAD design and analysis, collaborates with fabrication and integration teams to build and assemble systems, and supports vehicle testing and launch operations. The engineer owns spacecraft fluid-system hardware from concept through flight, communicates with cross-functional partners such as structures, propulsion, avionics, and vehicle systems, and contributes to the development of reliable, manufacturable systems in a fast-paced development environment.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
At least 1 year of experience in fluid-systems engineering and/or propulsion.
Thorough understanding of fluid dynamics and thermodynamics.
Experience with tube or pipe design and layout.
Proficiency with modeling and analysis tools such as CAD, FEA, CFD, MATLAB, or Python.
Strong engineering fundamentals and demonstrated ability to apply first principles to develop simple, robust solutions.
Excellent problem-solving, communication, and technical-writing skills.
Hands-on experience with hardware design, fabrication, and testing.
Working knowledge of manufacturing, fabrication, integration, and quality control relevant to fluid components, including machining, inspection, assembly, and testing.
Knowledge of fluid components such as valves, regulators, pressure transducers, tubing, pressurized hardware, seals, and instrumentation, and experience performing fluid-system sizing analysis with such components.
Ability to rapidly develop solutions when requirements are partially defined or evolving.
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 U.S. Department of State authorizations under applicable space technology export regulations.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or an equivalent field.
At least 2 years of experience developing launch-vehicle or spacecraft propulsion systems.
Knowledge of material selection and best practices for hypergolic systems.
Experience developing, designing, or testing fluid-system subcomponents or pressurized components, such as valves, regulators, piping systems, or pumps.
Experience with data acquisition systems and test instrumentation, including pressure transducers, thermocouples, RTDs, flow meters, load cells, and accelerometers.
Experience conducting tubing or piping flexibility analysis using software such as Ansys, Caesar II, or Bentley AutoPIPE.
Experience reducing complexity in large integrated assemblies to reduce part count, cost, and lead time.
Demonstrated ownership of the full hardware lifecycle, from blank-sheet design through full operation.

Responsibilities

Own spacecraft fluid-system requirements, design, and analysis from concept through flight.
Develop propulsion integration and operations concepts that reduce complexity and maximize reliability within program constraints.
Serve as the primary technical point of contact for spacecraft fluid systems.
Author and present detailed design-review materials to internal and external stakeholders.
Plan, coordinate, and execute development, qualification, and acceptance testing of flight hardware, including data analysis and reviews.
Implement design-for-manufacturability improvements to increase production efficiency and vehicle reliability.
Identify system-level risks, perform trade studies, and drive decisions supporting successful vehicle operation.
Develop and maintain automation tools and test-data analysis capabilities.
Support vehicle test and flight campaigns with console operations support.
Collaborate with manufacturing and integration teams to develop processes, work instructions, and test procedures, and provide direct build support.
Develop efficient fluid-system test and flight operations and assist with troubleshooting during vehicle operations.