Firefly Aerospace · 1 day ago
Director of Mechanical Engineering
Cedar Park, TX
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
10+ years expFirefly Aerospace is an end-to-end space transportation company focused on enabling launches and operations in space. The Director of Mechanical Engineering will lead the design and delivery of structural components for launch vehicles and spacecraft, ensuring performance and reliability through collaboration with various engineering teams.
AerospaceAir TransportationSatellite Communication
Responsibilities
Provide vision and leadership for the design, development, manufacturing, and integration of all structural aspects of Firefly’s vehicles
Lead, mentor, and manage a multi-discipline team of engineers and technicians, including Responsible Engineers (REs), ensuring professional development and performance accountability
Serve as chief architect of integrated airframe and tank structures, driving major design trades, reviews, and decisions
Establish and maintain department standards, processes, and documentation, ensuring compliance with industry regulations and internal best practices
Define and manage budget, headcount, schedules, and deliverables for the Structures Engineering department
Oversee hardware development, qualification test definitions, and acceptance criteria
Coordinate and align closely with program leadership to ensure structural milestones support program priorities and company objectives
Build and maintain supplier and subcontractor relationships to ensure quality and timely delivery of structural components
Support cross-functional collaboration with Mechanical, Propulsion, Avionics, and Production teams to optimize workflow and resolve conflicts
Address high-level design issues, solve complex problems, and ensure designs are technically feasible and manufacturable
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance engineering quality, reliability, cost efficiency, and lead-time reduction
Qualification
Required
10+ years in aerospace structures (launch vehicles or spacecraft) with 5+ years leading teams that delivered flight hardware
B.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, or related field
Demonstrated ownership of structural design/analysis and qualification test through flight
Proficiency in FEM and hand analysis; materials/allowables; fracture/mechanisms fundamentals; test planning and data reduction
Track record as a player-coach: hands-on design/analysis/test involvement while leading teams to delivery
Experience running change control, nonconformance, and configuration management at speed
Preferred
15+ years of professional experience in structures or mechanical engineering
Leadership of multi-program or multi-site structures organizations
Hands-on composites manufacturing and testing oversight experience
Experience designing structures for cryogenic environments
Experience with high-rate production, reusability, and post-flight teardown/failure analysis
Experience with aerospace standard structural analysis methods (Bruhn, Niu, Roark, Shigley's, etc.)
Familiarity with AS9100, NASA/DoD standards, and human-rating or CLPS-class rigor
Company
Firefly Aerospace
Firefly Aerospace is a space company that develops and operates launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles for commercial mission.
501-1000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$796.56MKey Investors
Northrop GrummanRPM VenturesAE Industrial Partners
2025-08-07IPO
2025-05-29Corporate Round· $50M
2024-11-12Series D· $175M
Leadership Team
Jason Kim
Chief Executive Officer
Eric Salwan
Co-Founder
Recent News
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