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Senior / Principal Robotics Engineer

Senior / Principal Robotics Engineer

Firefly AerospaceCedar park, TX
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ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE

As an end-to-end responsive space company, Firefly Aerospace is on a mission to enable our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. Our small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles allow us to service the entire lifecycle of government and commercial missions from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. We utilize carbon composite structures, patented propulsion technologies, and common components across our vehicles to iterate quickly, improve reliability, and deliver payloads at a lower cost.

SUMMARY

Firefly is building a new Lunar Robotics capability—developing systems that will enable our landers and spacecraft to interact with, explore, and service the lunar surface. We are seeking a Senior / Principal Robotics Engineer to be a founding member of this new team.

This is a rare opportunity to define the direction of Firefly’s robotics capability from the ground up. You will not only design and deliver critical lunar robotic systems but also help shape the team’s culture, technical roadmap, and growth path.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Lead the design, development, and test of robotic systems for Firefly’s lunar landers and payloads.
  • Define architectures for mobility, manipulation, and autonomy systems that enable science and commercial operations on the Moon.
  • Deliver qualified hardware and software for robotic actuators, end effectors, and sensing systems.
  • Partner closely with avionics, GNC, and software teams to integrate perception, autonomy, and safety-critical control.
  • Support full lifecycle development : requirements, trade studies, modeling / simulation, prototyping, quality, flight hardware, qualification, acceptance and mission operations.
  • Build the foundation of Firefly’s Robotics Engineering capability, mentoring others and helping scale a world-class team.
  • Expand Firefly’s robotics expertise beyond lunar systems into future spacecraft and mission needs.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Robotics Engineering, or related field (advanced degree preferred).
  • 6+ years (Senior) / 10+ years (Principal) of experience in robotics, mechatronics, or automation systems.
  • Proven ability to deliver robotic systems from concept through flight or field deployment.
  • Strong technical depth in kinematics, dynamics, control theory, and real-time systems.
  • Experience with hardware integration : actuators, sensors, manipulators, and control electronics within a real time control algorithm.
  • Proficiency in FEM / FEA tools (Nastran, ANSYS, FEMAP, etc)
  • Proficiency in simulation tools (MATLAB / Simulink, ROS, Gazebo, or equivalent).
  • Hands-on prototyping, test, troubleshooting, failure review experience.
  • Leadership potential : ability to guide projects, mentor engineers, and grow into team leadership

    • Desired

  • Direct experience with in-space robotics missions (e.g., robotic arms, planetary manipulators, sample acquisition systems, or servicing payloads).
  • Demonstrated success delivering flight-qualified, mission successful robotic hardware or autonomy for spacecraft or exploration missions.
  • Deep understanding of the unique constraints of in-space systems, including autonomy, reliability, and human / robot interaction.
  • Demonstrated success with AI / ML perception techniques for real-time robotic decision-making.
  • Deep understanding of defining FDIR logic.

    • Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, educational reimbursement, short term disability, and flexible PTO options.

    To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

    Firefly Aerospace, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Firefly is governed based on merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin / ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

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    Robotic Engineer • Cedar park, TX