Manufacturing Engineer III-Composites

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company that enables our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the only commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the only company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Our launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide government and commercial customers with full mission services from low Earth orbit to 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.

SUMMARYWe are seeking a highly motivated and dedicated Manufacturing Engineer to join our Structures Department. As part of a small, fast-paced, and passionate team you will be instrumental developing the world’s largest liquid fueled composite rocket and implementing full-rate production on our current vehicle and programs.

You will be responsible for developing tooling and fixtures for development programs as well as production programs, driving continuous improvement initiatives, optimizing processes, developing brand new processes, and providing technical expertise to enhance our production capabilities. This role will give you a wide variety of opportunities. This position requires a strong background in engineering, extensive experience with practical problem solving and the ability to learn quickly.

RESPONSIBILITIES Lead the design and development of tooling, fixtures, and production equipment necessary for the manufacturing of aerospace composite components. This includes selecting appropriate materials and manufacturing processes to meet specific aerospace industry standards.

Continuously evaluate and enhance manufacturing processes, tooling, and fixtures to optimize efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness. Implement improvements to increase production capacity and reduce cycle times.

Take ownership of hardware development and production processes, ensuring adherence to schedules and driving continuous improvements.

Develop and implement innovative solutions for tooling and fixturing to enhance manufacturing efficiency and quality.

Act as the primary point of contact for all aspects related to part expertise, including understanding intricacies of the hardware and providing guidance on its fabrication.

Support manufacturing floor operations by actively engaging with production teams to identify areas for improvement and to implement necessary changes.

Create detailed work instructions and procedures to standardize manufacturing processes and ensure consistency in product quality.

Lead the resolution of nonconformance issues by assessing root causes and implementing corrective actions to bring parts back into compliance.

Demonstrate exceptional problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to addressing challenges in a fast-paced environment.

Work closely with cross-functional teams, including design, manufacturing, and quality, to ensure the seamless integration into the production process.

Manage and oversee manufacturing programs, ensuring they meet quality, cost, and schedule requirements.

Identify and address production challenges, implementing effective solutions to ensure the timely delivery of high-quality aerospace components.

Implement and maintain rigorous quality control measures to meet industry standards and customer expectations.

Identify cost-saving opportunities and participate in cost reduction initiatives while maintaining product integrity.

Champion a culture of continuous improvement, driving Lean and Six Sigma principles throughout the manufacturing process.

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