Manager, Launch Vehicle Stage Test

Manager, Stage Test IPT ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE

As an end-to-end 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. As part of our mission to develop cutting-edge technology, we are seeking a skilled Stage Test Manager to join our team and play a vital role in ensuring the success of our next-generation propulsion systems.

This position is located at our manufacturing and test facility in Briggs, TX north of Austin, TX.

Firefly is a new aerospace company, full of creative and talented people, and the engineers in Flight and Test Operations are the where the “Lox hits the TEA-TEB”. If you’re the type of person that wants to know every last detail regarding the operation, function and performance of a rocket, Test and Launch Operations is the place for you.

The Stage Test Manager for this position will support Firefly’s Flight and Test Operations team. This role is responsible for the management of all stage test operations for the Alpha vehicle, as well as supporting subsystem tests for Firefly's new Eclipse vehicle at Firefly’s Testing Site in Briggs, Texas. The Test Operations Team partners with engineers from across the company to test and validate hardware all in the pursuit of making flight worthy components.

The Stage test is the final stop for Alpha stages before being sent to a Launch site. This step is critical for validating the functionality for the stage assembly, validating key metrics including:
Thrust, Propellant Masses, Press system performance and leak tightness of the stage.

Engineers on this team are responsible for not just partnering with their fellow engineers to hash out plans to test components to their flight-like limits, but also developing the required infrastructure, mechanical, electrical and software, to support these tests. Engineers are expected to be fast on their feet, adaptive and responsive to challenges. They are expected to be in the field, working in hands on and time sensitive applications.

Operations Engineers are expected to be self-sufficient, driven and highly motivated engineers up for learning new skills and taking on challenges to excel. As a team leader, you will own all aspects of component testing, including writing, reviewing and running test, scheduling, reporting on weekly progress and metrics and aligning needs with other test and engineering/operations groups.

The stage testing team also supports launch at the Firefly Launch Sites, aiding in the entire process from vehicle installation on the TEL through Static Fire and Launch. Members of the stage testing team has served roles ranging from Launch Pad Responsible Engineer, Vehicle and Ground Controller as well as Launch Conductor and Launch Director. The Stage Test Manager will be expected to support launch campaigns, while handing off responsibility to the launch sites as those sites grow and become self sufficient.

Candidate must be available to travel to launch site for 3 week periods, maximum 20% of the year.

• Integrated Product Team Manager
  • Manage test stand schedules, balancing needs of multiple programs, while maintaining test stand and supporting needed upgrades
  • Lead team in tracking and development of Key Performance Indicators
  • Run daily stand meetings and escalate progress and blockers as they arise
  • Integrate, instrument and test rocket components using our world class test stands and test software suite
  • Optimize and implement improvements in testing, component workflow, data review and automation
  • Manage stand upgrade and modification plans, schedule & budgets
  • Manage team training (training new operators + developing and improving training plans)
  • Conduct 1:1 with Test engineers and Operators on team as well as Test Tech POC
  • Lead the hiring and recruitment as the team expands
  • Manage performance of team members
• Work daily test stand operations
  • Serve as Test Director or Test Conductor for Stage Test…