Quality Engineer III (Propulsion)

About Firefly Aerospace

Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company on a mission to reliably and repeatedly launch, land, and operate space systems from Earth to the Moon and beyond. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the first commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24‑hour notice and the first company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join the team and help fuel its trajectory into space.

Role Summary

The Quality Engineer owns the processes and tools by which Firefly identifies, contains, eliminates, and prevents non‑conformances. Quality is charged with defining and maintaining the processes and tools that prove product capabilities meet requirements and result in a predictably economical and reliable product. The engineer is responsible for the development and maintenance of processes, equipment, and plans for inspection and acceptance of qualification and flight hardware and software products, as well as containment, root‑cause analysis, corrective actions, and periodic auditing to ensure reliability and economy. This position is located at the Production and Test facility north of Cedar Park in Briggs, TX.

Responsibilities

• Partner with design engineering and manufacturing teams through product development and production to create quality plans for flight products, including identification of key characteristics, development testing for functionality and manufacturability, first‑article and detailed inspection planning, and consideration of past failures and lessons learned.
• Develop and maintain inspection plans on propulsion components and sub‑assemblies (engines, valves, and tubing).
• Develop and maintain equipment, training, and standard work instructions for detailed inspection programs which assure adherence to design, specification, and testing requirements.
• Ensure that all actions required for product acceptance are conducted accurately and efficiently, in alignment with all customer requirements and regulatory standards.
• Generate accurate records for traceability and pedigree of customer‑deliverable products, including records of First Article Inspection.
• Lead and support Quality Inspectors in workflow priority, inspection process efficiency, and best‑practice inspection methodologies.
• Identify and document non‑conformances affecting product reliability and production efficiency.
• Collect, track, and trend production data on first‑pass yield and non‑conformance issues, performing basic statistical analysis on variable data.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to investigate and resolve non‑conformance or quality issues, including development and implementation of robust corrective actions to prevent recurrences.
• Develop and execute quarantine plans to identify, control, and disposition all affected non‑conforming product.
• Maintain tool control and calibration processes within the assigned department—including validation of metrology systems.
• Plan and perform periodic product and process audits to ensure compliance with the Firefly Quality Management System.
• Implement standards, tools, and methods to ensure the effectiveness of quality processes and sustain quality performance improvements.
• Execute projects and process improvements to reduce cost of poor quality.
• Review designs and provide feedback to mitigate manufacturability and inspection challenges.
• Review procedures and production metrics that impact quality and make necessary changes to ensure compliance with standards and requirements for mission success.
• Provide research and interpretation of regulations and requirements to ensure compliance with external standards.
• Participate in technical operations and offer guidance and/or serve as an additional technical engineering resource.
• Initiate and execute plans to improve product quality, reliability, and inspection efficiency.
• Apply 5S workplace organization and follow Lean initiatives.
• Support manufacturing compliance to customer and internal specifications to meet contractual and mission requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, industrial, or electrical engineering or a related discipline (e.g., computer science, mathematics, physics, chemistry).
• 5+ years of hands‑on experience in a manufacturing, quality, and/or design engineering role.
• Demonstrated ability to apply engineering fundamentals, interpret technical information, develop technical instructions, and understand technical drawings, specifications, GD&T, and related quality‑control documentation and standards.
• Experience with standards and/or equivalent quality, military, or government standards in the aerospace industry.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including effective verbal and written communication.
• Flexibility regarding workflow and process.
• Excellent organization skills and willingness to work with a team, share expertise, and follow instructions to accomplish established goals.

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, industrial, electrical engineering or a related discipline.
• 8+ years of hands‑on experience in aerospace manufacturing, quality, and/or design engineering.
• Demonstrated experience applying quality assurance principles, methods,