Payload Integration Engineer II

1w1 week ago

Firefly Aerospace

Cedar Park, US · Full-time · $115,000 – $155,000

About this role

Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company enabling launches, landings, and operations anywhere in space. As the partner of choice for critical missions, it is the only commercial firm to launch a satellite on 24-hour notice and achieve a successful Moon landing. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly seeks passionate innovators for its spacecraft programs.

The Payload Integration Engineer II manages payload integration for lunar landers and orbital vehicles. This role requires systems, integration, test, and launch experience specific to aerospace hardware. The engineer leverages advanced communication skills to interface with Firefly teams and external organizations like FAA, USAF, NASA, and commercial customers.

Day-to-day involves acting as the primary interface between Firefly engineering and payload customers such as NASA. Responsibilities include developing mission requirements, maintaining Interface Control Documents, and managing technical issues across form, fit, function, thermal, EMI/EMC, and operations. Coordination covers fit checks, integration, testing, launch, and mission execution.

The role collaborates closely with all Firefly engineering disciplines to meet Range and Mission Assurance requirements. It leads technical interchanges and design reviews, with occasional travel under 10%. Join to fuel Firefly's trajectory into space through critical payload missions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering or related field
Experience integrating payloads to spacecraft
Systems, integration, test, and launch experience specific to aerospace hardware
Advanced communication and relationship skills for interfacing with engineering disciplines and external organizations (FAA, USAF, NASA, NOAA, commercial customers)
Familiarity with Interface Control Documents (ICD) and mission performance requirements
Knowledge of payload interfaces including mechanical, electrical, data, thermal, EMI/EMC, radiation, and contamination
Experience with spacecraft integration, fit checks, acceptance testing, and launch operations

Responsibilities

Act as the primary engineering and programmatic interface between Firefly engineering teams and NASA and other payload customers
Manage the development and coordination of key mission performance and interface requirements
Build and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICD) for interfaces between customer payload and spacecraft
Manage technical issues related to form, fit, function, loads, dynamic environments, thermal, EMI/EMC, radiation, contamination, mass properties, mechanical/electrical/data interfaces, software APIs, and operations
Coordinate hardware and software activities including fit checks, spacecraft integration, acceptance testing, launch, and operations planning/execution
Lead technical interchange meetings and design reviews with NASA and other customers, with some travel (<10%)
Work closely with Firefly engineering disciplines to generate and evaluate analysis factors of safety and test plans meeting Range and Mission Assurance requirements