Firefly Aerospace · 17 hours ago
Principal Engineer, Propulsion
Briggs, TX
Full-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff
10+ years expFirefly Aerospace is an end-to-end space transportation company on a mission to enable world operations in space. The Principal Engineer, Propulsion is responsible for the architecture, design, analysis, development, and operation of combustion hardware across the company's propulsion systems, providing technical leadership and mentoring to ensure successful project delivery.
AerospaceAir TransportationSatellite Communication
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Lead the design, analysis, and development of combustion devices
Own critical combustion hardware across the full lifecycle, from concept and trade studies through qualification, flight, and operations
Perform and guide combustion stability, performance, thermal, and durability analyses
Define test objectives, instrumentation, and success criteria for component- and engine-level hot-fire testing
Serve as a senior technical contributor during test operations, anomaly investigations, and flight readiness activities
Drive reliability improvements through design iteration, failure analysis, and data-driven risk closure
Support advanced propulsion system trade studies for new engines and vehicle architectures
Develop and maintain analysis methods, models, and tools to support design decisions and situational awareness
Mentor early-career engineers through design reviews, technical guidance, and hands-on support
Support onboarding and technical training of new propulsion engineers
Collaborate closely with systems, fluids, turbomachinery, structures, manufacturing, integration, quality, and test teams
Contribute technical input to program planning, proposal development, and customer discussions as needed
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or related field
10+ years of experience in the design, development, and integration of propulsion and fluid systems for aerospace applications
Excellent leadership skills, with the ability to inspire and mentor a high-performing technical team
Proven track record of successfully delivering complex propulsion or fluid system projects, from concept to flight qualification
Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills, with keen attention to detail and a focus on delivering high-quality solutions
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders
Deep knowledge and expertise in combustion device design principles, fluid dynamics, combustion processes, and thermal management for space application
Preferred
Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
Experience integrating, testing, and launching liquid propulsion vehicles
Proficiency in conducting thermal analysis and optimization of propulsion systems to ensure reliable performance and safety
Familiarity with engineering software and tools such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Finite Element Analysis (FEA), and simulation software used in propulsion design and testing
Understanding of materials selection and manufacturing processes relevant to propulsion system components to ensure reliability and performance
Benefits
Generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles
Parental leave
Educational reimbursement
Short term disability
Flexible PTO options
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
2026-01-19
Company data provided by crunchbase