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Entry Level Payload Operator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

... deliver payloads at a lower cost. SUMMARY The Launch team is hiring for high-impact, dynamic ... This is an entry level position that will assist the senior fluids engineers in the operation ...

Report equipment and payload problems/hazards * Perform in-route inspection of all equipment ... Understand and practice ADS CORE VALUES Experience: * Entry level drivers accepted! Zero experience ...

... deliver payloads at a lower cost. SUMMARY The Launch team is hiring for high-impact, dynamic ... This is an entry level position that will assist the senior fluids engineers in the operation ...

Report equipment and payload problems/hazards * Perform in-route inspection of all equipment ... Understand and practice ADS CORE VALUES Experience: * Entry level drivers accepted! Zero experience ...

Report equipment and payload problems/hazards * Perform in-route inspection of all equipment ... Understand and practice ADS CORE VALUES Experience: * Entry level drivers accepted! Zero experience ...

Report equipment and payload problems/hazards * Perform in-route inspection of all equipment ... Understand and practice ADS CORE VALUES Experience: * Entry level drivers accepted! Zero experience ...

Report equipment and payload problems/hazards * Perform in-route inspection of all equipment ... Understand and practice ADS CORE VALUES Experience: * Entry level drivers accepted! Zero experience ...

Report equipment and payload problems/hazards * Perform in-route inspection of all equipment ... Understand and practice ADS CORE VALUES Experience: * Entry level drivers accepted! Zero experience ...

Report equipment and payload problems/hazards * Perform in-route inspection of all equipment ... Understand and practice ADS CORE VALUES Experience: * Entry level drivers accepted! Zero experience ...

Report equipment and payload problems/hazards * Perform in-route inspection of all equipment ... Understand and practice ADS CORE VALUES Experience: * Entry level drivers accepted! Zero experience ...

Report equipment and payload problems/hazards * Perform in-route inspection of all equipment ... Understand and practice ADS CORE VALUES Experience: * Entry level drivers accepted! Zero experience ...

Report equipment and payload problems/hazards * Perform in-route inspection of all equipment ... Understand and practice ADS CORE VALUES Experience: * Entry level drivers accepted! Zero experience ...

Report equipment and payload problems/hazards * Perform in-route inspection of all equipment ... Understand and practice ADS CORE VALUES Experience: * Entry level drivers accepted! Zero experience ...

Report equipment and payload problems/hazards * Perform in-route inspection of all equipment ... Understand and practice ADS CORE VALUES Experience: * Entry level drivers accepted! Zero experience ...

Report equipment and payload problems/hazards * Perform in-route inspection of all equipment ... Understand and practice ADS CORE VALUES Experience: * Entry level drivers accepted! Zero experience ...

Report equipment and payload problems/hazards * Perform in-route inspection of all equipment ... Understand and practice ADS CORE VALUES Experience: * Entry level drivers accepted! Zero experience ...

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Entry Level Payload Operator information

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How much do entry level payload operator jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for entry level payload operator in the United States is $17.46, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.62 and $18.99 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.
What are the most commonly searched types of Payload Operator jobs? The most popular types of Payload Operator jobs are:
Infographic showing various Entry Level Payload Operator job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 40% Full Time, and 59% Part Time. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $36,327 per year, or $17.5 per hour.
Fluids Launch Engineer I

Fluids Launch Engineer I

Firefly Aerospace

Lompoc, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Posted 20 days ago


Firefly Aerospace rating

8.4

Company rating: 8.4 out of 10

Based on 9 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

26th of 60 rated aerospace companies


Job description

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE

As an end-to-end responsive space company, Firefly Aerospace is on a mission to enable our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. Our small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles allow us to service the entire lifecycle of government and commercial missions from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. We utilize carbon composite structures, patented propulsion technologies, and common components across our vehicles to iterate quickly, improve reliability, and deliver payloads at a lower cost.

SUMMARY

The Launch team is hiring for high-impact, dynamic engineering positions for those who thrive on solving real problems in diverse environments. We are looking for a propulsion and fluids systems engineer to join the team responsible for all aspects of the launch pad propellant and pneumatic systems. This position will grow in responsibility to take ownership of a segment of these systems in all aspects of operation, maintenance, testing and upgrades. This position will validate and execute the performance of these systems during launch operations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • This is an entry level position that will assist the senior fluids engineers in the operation, maintenance and testing of the launch pad fluids and pneumatic systems. This position will grow in scope and responsibility as the candidate obtains hands-on experience with all aspects of launch pad operations.
  • Participate in design reviews and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams — including design engineers, technicians, external partners, and site personnel — to drive fluids system upgrades, streamline operations, and validate system readiness and performance for launch campaigns.
  • Support launch pad system and flight vehicle system integrity testing to validate system health, performance and readiness for launch campaigns.
  • Lead troubleshooting efforts, resolve any issues and non-conformances that arise during operations/testing, and support anomaly investigations
  • Opportunities to perform launch console operations or launch day close out team activities
  • Write procedures for system operation, maintenance, and vehicle testing operations.
  • Develop and execute maintenance strategies that maximize system availability and minimize downtime between missions.
  • Collaborate with customers, external stakeholders, and design teams to ensure interoperability and compliance with regulatory and range safety requirements.
  • Provide technical write-ups for systems upgrade proposals or tailoring of regulations.
  • Ability to work with Fluids and Mechanical GSE team members with limited supervision to achieve project or testing objectives. Write work instructions and supervise the execution of field work in service of the launch pad fluid and pneumatic systems.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or related engineering discipline
  • 0 - 2 years of hands-on experience with fluids systems, pneumatic systems, mechanisms, hydraulic systems, tooling, flight hardware or test operations
  • Experience designing, building, troubleshooting and/or operating complex fluid or pneumatic systems in an operational or project environment.
  • Ability to create and interpret engineering documentation including drawings, P&ID schematics and test data.
  • Able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high pressure fast-paced environment
  • Ability to self-motivate and take the initiative to ensure your systems are functional and operating at peak performance
  • Ability to adapt to shifting project and/or scope change requirements
  • Ability to convey complex technical information clearly and concisely to technical and non-technical audiences
  • Comfortable working in launch site environments with field testing, lifting equipment, and hazardous materials

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, pet Insurance, 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.


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