Instrumentation & Controls Engineer III-Ground Systems

Instrumentation & Controls Engineer III-Ground Systems

Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company on a mission to reliably and repeatedly launch, land, and operate space systems from Earth to the Moon and beyond. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the first commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the first company to achieve a successful Moon landing. 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

Join Firefly's Ground Systems team as a Level III Instrumentation & Controls Engineer and become the technical authority for the systems that make launch, orbit, and landing possible. This isn't theoretical engineering—it's expert-level design, technical leadership, and strategic direction for the control systems and instrumentation that monitor rocket engines, manage cryogenic propellants, and enable rapid-fire test campaigns across all of Firefly’s programs. As a Level III engineer, you are the subject matter expert and technical leader. You'll architect complete control system solutions from concept through commissioning, lead complex projects and multiple engineers on time-sensitive initiatives, and serve as the go-to authority when the toughest technical challenges arise. Your control architectures will span all of Firefly's test stands, test fixtures, and launch sites. Your technical decisions will influence and shape the evolution of rapidly evolving launch and in-space programs. Your expertise will guide the next generation of engineers developing Firefly's ground infrastructure. This role demands technical mastery and leadership. You'll need deep expertise in PLCs, HMIs, data acquisition, and instrumentation—but also the strategic vision to set technical direction, the leadership skills to guide project teams, and the business acumen to support project execution and customer engagement. You'll work at the highest technical level—defining standards, driving innovation, developing roadmaps, and representing Firefly's I&C capabilities to internal and external stakeholders. You'll lead technical teams through the most complex challenges, make architectural decisions that impact multiple programs, and resolve problems that other engineers upscale to you. When a novel test requirement demands a control solution that doesn't exist yet, you'll architect it. When a major customer has concerns about data integrity or performance, you'll be in the room explaining our approach. When a critical project needs expert leadership to stay on track, you'll take the reins. If you're a recognized expert in instrumentation and controls who's ready to shape the technical direction of a growing space company, mentor the next generation of engineers, and see your architectural vision enable humanity's expansion into space, this is your opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Subject Matter Expertise:

• Serve as subject matter expert (SME) for instrumentation and controls across Firefly
• Lead small technical teams of 1-2 engineers on specific, complex, or time-sensitive projects and initiatives
• Create and maintain procedures and standards for design, fabrication, and activation of control systems and control hardware
• Drive innovation in control system methodologies, tools, and approaches
• Develop long-term technical roadmaps for I&C capabilities and infrastructure
• Architect control system solutions for novel applications and complex technical challenges
• Provide technical authority and final design approval for critical control systems
• Serve as technical escalation point for complex troubleshooting and problem resolution
• Represent Firefly I&C capabilities in technical reviews, working groups, and industry forums

Strategic Planning & Business Development:

• Participate in proposal development and provide technical input for new business opportunities
• Interface with internal and external customers to understand and resolve technical challenges
• Support cost estimation and technical risk assessment for new projects
• Contribute to technical strategy and capability development planning
• Identify opportunities for technology advancement and competitive differentiation
• Develop relationships with vendors, technology providers, and industry partners

Control System Design & Implementation:

• Design, develop, test, and introduce controls, human-machine interfaces, data acquisition, and PLC systems for equipment involving mechanical, electrical, electronic controls, and fluid handling systems
• Design and implement PLC-based control systems for test stands, launch infrastructure, and ground support equipment
• Develop control logic, ladder logic, and structured text programming for Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar PLC platforms
• Design and configure HMIs (Human Machine Interfaces) for operator control and system monitoring
• Create control system architectures including I/O mapping, network topology, and control panel layouts
• Design interlock logic and safety systems to protect personnel, equipment, and flight hardware
• Develop automated sequencing for propellant loading, engine testing, and vehicle processing operations
• Implement motion control systems for valves, actuators, and positioning systems
• Develop SCADA systems for monitoring and control of distributed ground support equipment

Instrumentation & Data Acquisition:

• Specify, select, and integrate sensors including thermocouples, RTDs, pressure transducers, flow meters, strain gauges, load cells, and position encoders
• Design signal conditioning circuits and amplification systems for sensor interfaces
• Configure data acquisition systems using National Instruments hardware (cRIO, CompactRIO, PXI) or similar platforms
• Develop LabVIEW or Python scripts for automated data collection and analysis
• Design instrumentation layouts and cable routing for test stands and launch facilities
• Calibrate instrumentation and maintain calibration records per AS9100 requirements
• Implement high-speed data acquisition for transient measurements during engine firings

Electrical Design & Documentation:

• Generate instrumentation and control system drawing packages for projects including control and I/O diagrams, instrument and control cable schedules, instrument loop diagrams, junction box wiring diagrams, control panel layout and wiring diagrams
• Create electrical drawings including single-line diagrams, control schematics, wiring diagrams, panel layouts, and conduit routing plans
• Design control panels including power distribution, circuit protection, terminal blocks, and component mounting
• Specify electrical components including breakers, contactors, relays, power supplies, and signal converters
• Review and approve electrical installation work for compliance with design intent and electrical codes
• Maintain as-built documentation and