Launch Engineer, Operations II

At Firefly, we’re focused on making space attainable for everyone – including you! Each team member’s passion, dedication, and innovative ideas have a direct impact on fueling our successful trajectory into space. And there’s no shortage of meaningful projects to work on at Firefly. With launch, lunar, and orbital vehicles, Firefly has a diverse line of business with opportunities to get hands‑on experience launching rockets, operating in space, and landing on the Moon.

This World Space Week, remember to look up and ...

This World Space Week, remember to look up and ...

The engine powering Alpha`s first stage is truly ...

The engine powering Alpha`s first stage is truly ...

825 4

More cleanroom space. More spacecraft in ...

More cleanroom space. More spacecraft in ...

Twenty‑five years later, we remember the lives ...

Twenty‑five years later, we remember the lives ...

355 1

In this Manufacturing Minute, our Tooling ...

In this Manufacturing Minute, our Tooling ...

319 9

Our Values

Headquartered in the Lone Star State, Firefly’s hardworking team reflects Texas’ GO BIG culture in everything we do. We build big, achieve big, and dream big. We’re building launch vehicles and spacecraft to provide rapid, reliable space access. We’ve achieved some incredible wins, including the first successful commercial Moon landing. And we’re dreaming bigger than this planet with ambitions to Mars, Venus, and beyond. Our core values are what drive us along the way.

Passion

Fireflies believe in perseverance, responsiveness, and mentoring others with a focus on inspiring a better future.

Accountability

Fireflies act with integrity and take ownership of our actions, commitments, decisions, and outcomes.

Fireflies work in alignment across teams and communicate clearly with mutual respect for one another.

Fireflies deliver high‑quality work through technical rigor and timely disciplined execution for our customers.

We take care of our Fireflies with some of the best benefits in the industry. Our mission to make space for everyone starts with our employees and allowing them to make space for their family, their career, and their future.

Space for You

• Unlimited PTO for exempt employees
• 3-month sabbatical for every 5 years of service
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
• Mental health services
• Paid military leave

Space for Your Family

• 12 weeks paid maternity leave
• 4 weeks paid spouse leave
• $20k towards family planning: fertility, surrogacy, adoption
• Dog friendly workplace

Space for Your Career

• $10k/year towards trade school or college
• Ongoing coaching to advance leadership skills
  • Employee-ownership with stock bonuses
  • 4% Safe Harbor 401(k) matching
  • $10k bonus for home purchase in Cedar Park, Texas

Job Openings

From launch technicians to propulsion engineers, Firefly has open roles across the company. We’re looking for passionate, bright innovators to join our team and help make space an achievable dream for everyone.

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.

SUMMARY

The Launch Site Development team is hiring for high-impact, dynamic engineering positions for those who thrive on solving real problems in diverse environments. Lead the development and execution of mission‑critical test and launch operations across a growing portfolio of launch sites, from historical US-based pads to greenfield builds, including Wallops Flight Facility and Esrange, Sweden. Take ownership of the integrated operations layer that ties every subsystem together. Write the procedures, build the automation, sit on console, and drive the cross‑functional decisions that get vehicles off the pad safely. You'll work across every ground and vehicle subsystem, serving as the connective tissue between fluids, propulsion, avionics, structures, software, and ground systems teams.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and execute integrated test and launch operations across a global launch portfolio including Vandenberg Space Force Base (CA), Wallops Flight Facility (VA), Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (FL), and Esrange Space Center (Sweden)
• Lead design reviews and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams - including GSE design engineers, vehicle engineers, software teams, technicians, and external partners - to drive ground‑system upgrades, streamline operations, and establish standardized processes across all launch sites
• Commission ground systems and support integrated vehicle/ground operations at the pad as an on-console operator
• Support troubleshooting efforts, resolve any issues and non-conformances that arise during operations/testing, and lead anomaly investigations
• Contribute to the development of automation sequences and operational software tools to support test and launch execution
• Write procedures for launch pad configuration, vehicle operations, and propellant/pressurant handling during countdown operations
• Participate in development of company processes, guidelines, and training in test and launch operations
• Collaborate with customers, external stakeholders, and design teams to ensure interoperability and compliance with regulatory and range safety requirements
• Requires up to 25% travel to test and launch sites to support overall program needs

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or related engineering discipline
• 2+ years of hands‑on experience in test operations, launch operations, or similar high‑consequence operational environments (e.g., oil & gas, nuclear, defense)
• On-console experience in real‑time operations
• Experience executing automation sequences and procedures for hazardous, time‑critical, or mission‑critical systems
• Proficiency in at least one programming language (Python, MATLAB, or similar) with demonstrated application to operational tooling, data analysis, or automation
• Comfortable working in launch site environments with field testing, heavy equipment, and hazardous materials
• Willingness to support off‑hour shifts during launch operations
• Master's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or related engineering discipline
• Foundational understanding of launch vehicle and ground subsystems, including fluid systems, propulsion, avionics, structures, and software/controls
• Experience with distributed control systems, SCADA platforms, or custom data acquisition and control architectures
• Experience with hazard and risk analysis tools (i.e., FMEA, FMECA, FHA, HAZOP, etc.)
• Experience with standards and regulations (ASME, NFPA, NEC, AFSPCMAN 91-710, NASA-STD-5005, GSFC-STD-8009, etc.)
• Prior experience at a federal launch range (e.g., VSFB, CCSFS, KSC, WFF, PSC)
• Able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high pressure fast‑paced environment
• Ability to convey complex technical information clearly and concisely to technical and non-technical audiences
• Demonstrated project management experience, including vendor management, ability to communicate with senior leaders, development of budgets and schedules, etc.
• Familiarity with Atlassian products (i.e., Confluence and Jira) and version control systems (i.e., SVN, Bitbucket, Git, etc.)
• Ability to obtain security clearance

Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, 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.