Internship - Quality Engineering - Fall 2026 Verified today

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. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly was the first commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the first to achieve a successful Moon landing.

The Role

As a Quality Engineering Intern, you will support the Quality team in ensuring flight hardware and production processes meet the highest standards of reliability, compliance, and performance. You will work on issue investigations, non-conformance analysis, inspection activities, and process improvement initiatives across launch vehicle and spacecraft production.

This role provides hands-on exposure to aerospace manufacturing, inspection methodologies, root cause investigations, and quality management systems. You will work cross-functionally with Design Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Test teams, and complete a defined capstone project focused on improving product quality, inspection efficiency, or production metrics.

Location: Production and Test facility north of Cedar Park in Briggs, TX.

Responsibilities

• Support Quality Engineers in investigating non-conformances and production quality issues
• Assist with root cause analysis and corrective action implementation
• Collect, track, and analyze production-quality data (first-pass yield, defect trends, rework drivers)
• Support development and updates to inspection plans, control plans, and quality documentation
• Participate in First Article Inspection activities and traceability documentation efforts
• Assist with inspection of mechanical, electrical, and electro-mechanical components
• Collaborate with manufacturing and engineering teams to improve product quality and manufacturability
• Support internal audits and compliance activities aligned with Firefly's Quality Management System
• Contribute to Lean and 5S initiatives to improve workflow and inspection efficiency
• Complete an individual or team-based capstone project focused on measurable quality or process improvement

Required Qualifications

• Enrollment in or recent graduation from a BS or MS program in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related technical discipline
• Strong interest in manufacturing quality, inspection, or aerospace production environments
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, specifications, and GD&T
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced, hands-on environment
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Willingness to work cross-functionally and learn from experienced engineers and inspectors

Desired Qualifications

• Prior internship, research, or student project team experience in manufacturing, quality, or design engineering
• Familiarity with quality tools such as 5 Whys, Fishbone diagrams, SPC, PFMEA, or corrective action processes
• Exposure to aerospace, automotive, or other regulated manufacturing environments
• Basic understanding of AS9100, ISO 9001, or similar quality standards
• Experience with data analysis tools (Excel, MATLAB, Python, or similar)
• Familiarity with inspection equipment and metrology concepts

Export Control

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, you must be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., a 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.