Manager, Mechanical Engineering-GSE

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE

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

Lead the mechanical backbone of Firefly's ground infrastructure as the MGSE (Mechanical Ground Support Equipment) Engineering Manager. This isn't just engineering management - it's architecting and delivering the physical systems that launch rockets and get spacecraft to orbit. From fast-acting, precision hydraulic systems to massive steel structures supporting multi-million-dollar missions, your team will design, build, and commission the mechanical systems that make space access possible. As the Mechanical Engineering Manager for Ground Systems, you'll lead an expert team of engineers responsible for the mechanical and structural aspects of Firefly's ground support equipment across test stands, launch sites, and numerous production/integration facilities and programs.

Your responsibilities span Test Stand and Launch Sites, vehicle integration hardware, fast acting and high precision hydraulic systems, and structures that create or maintain safe environments for test, integration, or launch. When Firefly needs a new test stand, your team designs the superstructure, mechanical interfaces, dynamic systems, and works as embedded support for the structures supporting the fluid systems on the stand. When a launch site requires an upgrade, your engineers are the ones called to solve the problem. This role demands both technical depth and leadership excellence.

You'll manage 15+ mechanical engineers and designers working on concurrent projects worth millions of dollars. You'll make critical design decisions and trade resolutions, validate structural load calculations, oversee functional checkouts of new hardware, and work with your internal customers across Firefly to support the growing needs before they arise. You'll navigate complex technical trade-offs between performance, cost, schedule, and risk. And you'll represent MGSE capabilities to executive leadership, customers, and external stakeholders. You and your team will own the concept of operations for new hardware and ensuring it suits both current and future needs of the end user. Your team will support active operations by performing stress analysis on equipment currently in operation, make judgement calls on acceptable levels of design margin, and solve vibration or thermal management challenges that few engineers ever face. This is a role where mechanical engineering meets mission success. When your launch mount successfully supports a vehicle through liftoff, when your team's structural design withstands the extreme environment of a hot fire, when a multi-million dollar payload is safely fueled and integrated with the rocket—that's your impact. If you're a mechanical engineering leader who thrives on complex technical challenges, loves building high-performing teams, and wants to see your systems enable humanity's expansion into space, this is your opportunity to lead from the front.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Management:

• Lead and manage MGSE engineering team of 15+ mechanical engineers, designers, and technical staff
• Recruit, hire, and develop top mechanical engineering talent
• Set team goals, provide coaching and mentorship, and conduct performance reviews
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, innovation, collaboration, and accountability
• Build cross-functional working relationships with other GSE Engineering teams, GSE Fabrication, Test Operations, Launch Operations, Integration, and vehicle Engineering
• Develop succession plans and career paths for mechanical engineers

Mechanical Systems Design & Engineering:

• Own mechanical design and engineering for MGSE systems including structures, mechanical handling equipment, integration jibs, test adapters, transport fixtures, and lift equipment
• Manage the design of mechanical handling equipment including cranes, hoists, transporters, and positioning systems
• Ensure mechanical designs meet performance requirements, safety standards, and regulatory compliance.

Project & Program Management:

• Oversee multiple concurrent MGSE projects from concept through commissioning and operational handover
• Develop project schedules, resource plans, and budgets for mechanical engineering efforts
• Coordinate with Program and Project Managers to ensure mechanical engineering deliverables align with program milestones
• Track project progress, identify risks, and implement mitigation strategies
• Make critical trade-off decisions balancing technical performance, cost, schedule, and risk
• Provide accurate forecasts of engineering labor, schedule, and technical risk to leadership.
• Manage requests for support, scope changes and ensure proper change control processes

Technical Leadership & Decision-Making:

• Serve as technical authority for mechanical engineering decisions on complex MGSE systems
• Review and approve mechanical designs, calculations, drawings, and specifications
• Facilitate technical reviews including Requirements Reviews, Conceptual Design Reviews (CoDR), Preliminary Design Reviews (PDR), Critical Design Reviews (CDR), and ConOps reviews
• Resolve technical conflicts and drive consensus between competing concepts
• Challenge requirements where they drive undue challenge, cost, or delivery timeline
• Champion design-for-manufacturability, design-for-assembly, and design-for-maintenance principles
• Strengthen and educate through engineering best practices, lessons learned, and continuous improvement
• Drive innovation in mechanical design methodologies, tools, and technologies
• Work with Safety and Quality teams on risk assessments and mitigation strategies.

Structural Engineering:

• Verify structural analysis and design for test stands, launch infrastructure, and GSE structures
• Manage Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for structural components subjected to mechanical, thermal, and dynamic loads
• Direct design of foundations, anchor bolts, support structures, and seismic restraints
• Ensure structures withstand rocket exhaust plumes, acoustic loads, and environmental conditions
• Review structural calculations, load cases, and factor of safety determinations
• Coordinate with 3rd party civil engineers on foundation design and site civil work

Design Documentation & Standards:

• Establish and maintain MGSE design standards, specifications, and engineering processes through coordination with Firefly Systems Engineering
• Ensure creation of high-quality mechanical drawings, specifications, and design documentation
• Implement configuration management and change control for mechanical designs
• Maintain design database and lessons learned repository.
• Ensure compliance with industry codes including ASME, AISC, AWS, and applicable standards

Vendor & Supplier Management:

• Manage relationships with equipment vendors, fabrication contractors, and engineering consultants.
• Review vendor proposals, technical specifications, and cost estimates.
• Conduct technical evaluations and source selection for major equipment procurement.
• Oversee vendor design reviews, submittals, and technical documentation.
• Monitor vendor performance on quality, schedule, and technical compliance.
• Qualify new suppliers and maintain approved vendor lists.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Partner with I&C and Fluids Engineering teams to ensure integrated system design
• Collaborate with GSE Production on fabrication and installation planning
• Coordinate with internal customers to understand operational requirements and constraints
• Work with GSE Leadership on integrated schedules, resource planning, and reporting
• Interface with Procurement on material specifications, long-lead items, and vendor selection
• Engage with customers and stakeholders on technical requirements and design reviews

Commissioning & Operational Support:

• Support commissioning activities for new mechanical systems including mechanical proofing and functional testing
• Provide engineering support during system activation, checkout, and initial operations.
• Troubleshoot mechanical system issues during commissioning and operations.
• Conduct post-commissioning reviews and implement design improvements.
• Support test campaigns with engineering expertise and responsive troubleshooting support

Strategic Planning & Continuous Improvement:

• Develop long-term MGSE capability roadmaps aligned with Firefly's strategic objectives
• Identify technology gaps and develop plans to address capability needs
• Benchmark against industry best practices and drive adoption of advanced methodologies
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance design quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
• Support business development with technical assessments and capability briefings.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related Engineering or Technical discipline
• 5 years of experience in 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 (NX or similar)
• Experience with FEA software (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
• Proven 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 ability to make sound engineering judgements
• Understanding of manufacturing processes including welding, maching, and fabrication
• Ability to work ain a fast-paced environment with evolving requirements and tight deadlines
• Flexibility to support critical operations including extended hours and occasional travel.
• US Person status required (US citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or Asylee) due to ITAR/EAR requirements

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or similar technical field
• 7-10 years of experience in Aerospace, Defense, Oil & 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 with design evaluation for additive manufacturing and other advanced fabrication techniques
• Previous experience managing engineering teams in startup or high-growth environments

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