Quality Inspector – Propulsion & Fluids Manufacturing

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 our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space.

Quality Assurance 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 which prove product capabilities meet requirements and result in a predictably economical and reliable product.

The Firefly Quality Inspector is responsible for the inspection and acceptance of qualification and flight hardware within Propulsion & Fluids Manufacturing, performing in-process and final inspections to verify that critical dimensions, configuration, workmanship, cleanliness, assembly, and test requirements are satisfied prior to acceptance. Working closely with Production, Manufacturing Engineering, Test, and Quality Engineering, Quality Inspectors play a critical role in preventing escapes, protecting flight hardware, and ensuring mission success. This position is located at our Production and Test facility north of Cedar Park, in Briggs, TX.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform in-process and final inspections on launch vehicle and spacecraft components and sub-assemblies within Propulsion & Fluids Manufacturing, focused on valves, tube assemblies, engine integration, and associated mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems, executing inspection plans that ensure hardware meets design, manufacturing, process, and test requirements.

• Perform dimensional and visual inspections using precision measurement tools, gauges, fixtures, and inspection equipment to verify compliance with drawings, specifications, GD&T, workmanship standards, and acceptance criteria — including sealing surfaces, threaded features, fittings, ports, flanges, tube geometry, routing, fit-up, and pressure-boundary interfaces.

• Inspect tube assemblies, welds, and braze joints, and verify applicable cleanliness, contamination-control, and FOD requirements for propulsion and fluid-system hardware.

• Perform inspection and acceptance activities during engine assembly and integration, including verification of component installation, configuration, interfaces, and workmanship.

• Witness and verify critical manufacturing and test operations, including torque applications, locking features, seal installation, pressure testing, proof testing, leak testing, and designated inspection or witness points.

• Verify hardware configuration, part and serial number traceability, material and process certifications, and required manufacturing records prior to acceptance.

• Document and process non-conformances in accordance with established procedures and control non-conforming hardware as required.

• Collaborate with Production, Manufacturing Engineering, Test, and Quality Engineering to investigate quality issues, support root-cause analysis, and assist with corrective actions.

• Support the collection, tracking, and trending of quality data, including first-pass yield and non-conformance information, and assist with basic statistical analysis and internal, process, and product audits as required.

• Maintain compliance with tool-control and calibration requirements within assigned work centers.

• Support continuous improvement activities that improve product quality, inspectability, and inspection efficiency, and apply 5S and Lean principles.

• Support compliance with customer, engineering, regulatory, and internal requirements, and perform other duties as assigned.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate.

• 2+ years of hands-on inspection, quality, manufacturing, maintenance, assembly, or related technical experience within aerospace, defense, military aviation, or a similarly regulated manufacturing environment.

• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret technical drawings, engineering specifications, manufacturing instructions, and related quality-control documentation, including working knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).

• Experience performing dimensional inspections using precision measurement equipment such as calipers, micrometers, gauges, fixtures, and related inspection tools.

• Experience working within established quality systems and manufacturing controls in an aerospace, defense, military, government, or similarly regulated environment.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with Production, Engineering, Test, and Quality personnel.

• Strong organizational skills, flexibility regarding workflow and changing production priorities, and willingness to work collaboratively, share technical expertise, and follow established procedures.

Desired

• Associate degree or higher in quality, engineering, or related technical discipline.

• Demonstrated experience applying quality assurance principles, inspection methods, processes, equipment, and tools within an aerospace or precision-manufacturing environment.

• Hands-on inspection experience with aerospace propulsion systems, engines, valves, tube assemblies, fittings, manifolds, or other fluid-system hardware.

• Experience with engine assembly, propulsion-system integration, mechanical integration, or similar complex hardware assembly operations.

• Experience supporting pressure, proof, pneumatic, hydrostatic, or leak-test operations.

• Experience with precision cleaning, cleanliness verification, contamination control, FOD prevention, cleanroom operations, or controlled-environment manufacturing.

• Experience supporting Material Review Board (MRB), root-cause analysis, corrective-action, or containment activities.

• Experience interpreting and inspecting to Model-Based Definitions (MBD).

• Demonstrated experience with application of aerospace quality standards, such as AS9100 or ISO 9001.

• Experience working with electronic Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Quality Management Systems (QMS), or digital inspection and manufacturing records.