Launch Operations Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE

As an end-to-end responsive space transportation company, Firefly Aerospace is on a mission to enable our world to launch, land, and operate in space anywhere, anytime. Our launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide government and commercial customers with full mission services from low Earth orbit to the surface of the Moon and beyond. 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

We are seeking a Spacecraft Environmental Test & Launch Operations Engineer to support spacecraft environmental test campaigns and launch site operations across multiple missions. This team owns the planning, coordination, and execution of spacecraft-level environmental testing and launch preparation activities, supporting spacecraft through critical milestones from integration through launch.

This role combines hands-on spacecraft test execution with mission operations coordination and technical planning responsibilities. The ideal candidate is experienced in spacecraft environmental testing and launch operations, thrives in fast-paced operational environments, and is comfortable supporting frequent travel for offsite test and launch campaigns. In addition to spacecraft-level campaigns, this role will support subsystem and component-level environmental testing between major spacecraft operations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plan, coordinate, and execute spacecraft environmental test campaigns, including vibration, acoustic, EMI/EMC, and thermal vacuum (TVAC) testing.
• Develop environmental test procedures, execution plans, schedules, operational storyboards, and readiness documentation.
• Support spacecraft processing activities before, during, and after environmental testing, including hardware handling, transportation, lifting operations, test setup, and configuration management.
• Monitor test execution, support troubleshooting and anomaly resolution, and participate in mission readiness reviews.
• Support launch site processing and launch campaign execution, including spacecraft closeouts, fueling support, final vehicle preparations, and coordination with launch providers and mission management teams.
• Serve as a key operational interface between integration, test, systems engineering, mission management, launch operations, and program teams.
• Track schedules, risks, constraints, action items, and readiness status for assigned campaigns and missions.
• Support component and subsystem-level environmental testing, including test setup, instrumentation, facility readiness, data collection, and operational execution.
• Identify and implement improvements to environmental test operations, launch processing workflows, campaign execution efficiency, and operational standardization.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience supporting spacecraft environmental testing, launch operations, spacecraft integration, or related aerospace activities.
• Experience planning and executing spacecraft-level environmental test campaigns.
• Strong understanding of spacecraft handling, test operations, launch campaign workflows, and operational readiness processes.
• Strong organizational, communication, and cross-functional coordination skills.
• Familiarity with the General Environmental Verification Standard (GEVS) and AFSPCMAN 91-710 range safety compliance documentation
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently in support of offsite test and launch campaigns.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting spacecraft Assembly, Integration & Test (AI&T) operations.
• Experience with TVAC, vibration, acoustic, shock, and EMI/EMC testing.
• Experience supporting launch site operations and launch campaigns.
• Experience with hypergolic fueling and SCAPE operations.
• Familiarity with spacecraft contamination control, hazardous operations, and facility operations.
• Experience with test instrumentation, data acquisition systems, and environmental test facilities.
• Experience supporting production-oriented spacecraft programs or mission operations organizations.

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