HSE Engineer III - Process Safety Management

HSE Engineer III – Process Safety Management

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.

The HSE Specialist III serves as a senior technical authority responsible for leading environmental, health, safety, and Process Safety Management (PSM) support for Ground Support Equipment (GSE), propulsion test systems, and test operations at Firefly Aerospace’s Briggs, Texas facility. This role provides strategic oversight and technical guidance for high‑hazard operations involving cryogenic systems, pressure systems, hazardous chemicals, propellants, fluid systems, energized equipment, and complex test infrastructure.

The HSE Specialist III partners closely with GSE Engineering, Test Operations, Facilities, Propulsion, and Maintenance teams to ensure safe design, installation, operation, maintenance, and modification of test stands and associated support systems.

The position is responsible for driving operational risk reduction, regulatory compliance, emergency preparedness, and continuous improvement initiatives across test and GSE operations. This individual will lead hazard analyses, support process safety initiatives, oversee contractor and operational safety compliance, and ensure that safety requirements are integrated into all phases of test planning and execution.

This role is expected to operate with minimal supervision, provide mentorship to junior HSE personnel, influence organizational safety culture, and serve as a key safety partner supporting Firefly’s fast‑paced development and test environment.

This position is located in our Briggs, Texas location.

• Lead development, implementation, and continuous improvement of enterprise‑wide HSE and Process Safety Management (PSM) programs supporting propulsion testing, hazardous operations, and launch activities.
• Serve as the senior HSE and PSM subject matter expert for high‑risk aerospace operations involving propellants, cryogenics, pressure systems, hazardous chemicals, and energized systems.
• Manage and maintain OSHA Process Safety Management (29 CFR ) program elements for applicable highly hazardous chemical processes and operations.
• Facilitate and participate in Process Hazard Analyses (PHA), What‑If analyses, HAZOPs, Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA), and other formal risk assessments for hazardous systems and operations.
• Partner with engineering and operations teams to ensure process safety considerations are incorporated into system design, modifications, Management of Change (MOC), and operational readiness activities.
• Lead incident investigations, root cause analyses, corrective action development, and lessons learned implementation for safety, environmental, operational, and process safety events.
• Develop and maintain PSM documentation including operating procedures, safe work practices, process safety information (PSI), mechanical integrity records, and compliance audits.
• Support Pre‑Startup Safety Reviews (PSSR) for new systems, facility modifications, and operational changes involving hazardous materials or energy systems.
• Conduct advanced hazard analyses including Job Hazard Analysis (JHA), Operating & Support Hazard Analysis (O&SHA), and operational risk assessments.
• Lead development, implementation, and oversight of emergency response plans and incident command activities related to hazardous operations and propulsion systems.
• Manage regulatory compliance programs related to OSHA, EPA, DOT, RCRA, SPCC, hazardous waste, air permitting, chemical inventory reporting, and environmental compliance obligations.
• Serve as the primary interface with regulatory agencies, auditors, emergency responders, and external safety…