Provide technical leadership for mechanical, architectural, and structural design and analysis of Firefly's launch vehicle and spacecraft products
Serve as technical authority and approver for mechanical hardware decisions
Lead and arbitrate cross-disciplinary technical trades impacting vehicle performance, reliability, manufacturability, and certification
Own mechanical and structural requirements, verification methods, compliance evidence, and acceptance criteria
Guide and approve analysis methodologies and reports
Drive hardware development and qualification test definition, standards, and guidelines
Partner with Manufacturing, Reliability/Quality, and Program teams to resolve integration, build, and production issues
Ensure lessons learned and test findings are incorporated into future standards and designs
Provide technical leadership and mentorship to mechanical engineering teams

B.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, or related engineering field
10+ years of experience in mechanical and/or structural design, analysis, and qualification for aerospace systems
Demonstrated experience owning technical decisions, design reviews, change control, and NCR/RCCA disposition
Proven ability to translate complex technical problems into clear, defensible engineering decisions backed by physics, data, and sound judgment
Deep understanding of: FEM/FEA and classical hand analysis and verification methods
Working knowledge of composite manufacturing methods, material selection, testing, characterization, and allowables development
Strong documentation rigor and configuration control discipline; sets the standard for technical quality
M.S. or PhD in a relevant discipline preferred
Experience serving as a Chief Engineer, technical authority, or structural signatory for launch vehicle or spacecraft flight programs
Strong design and integration skills using 3D CAD software (Siemens NX preferred)
Demonstrated experience with industry FEA/FEM tools (ANSYS, Nastran, FEMAP, etc.)
Working knowledge of at least one computer or scripting language at a hobbyist level or professional.

Chief Engineer, Mechanical Engineering

Key skills