ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE

Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company that enables our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the only commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the only company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Our launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide government and commercial customers with full mission services from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space.

SUMMARY

Building a rocket is one thing. Building a team and production system capable of launching rockets reliably, again and again, is an entirely different challenge. At Firefly Aerospace, we're looking for a Senior Program Manager ready to take on that challenge.

You'll lead the flagship Alpha launch program from development articles through launch, bringing together engineering, manufacturing, and business teams to deliver critical missions for government and commercial customers. We're looking for a seasoned leader with strong technical judgment, operational experience, and financial acumen who can challenge the status quo and make difficult decisions. This is an opportunity to do more than manage schedules, budgets and presentations  - you'll build the capabilities that make frequent, reliable access to space possible.

RESPONSIBILITIES

To lead the successful execution, growth, and operational maturity of a launch vehicle program by:

• Owning program performance across technical objectives, cost, schedule, quality, risk, and customer commitments.
• Leading cross-functional execution across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, integration, test, and launch operations.
• Driving production ramp-up and industrialization to establish scalable, predictable manufacturing capabilities.
• Managing program financial performance, including budgets, forecasts, cost-to-complete, investments, and cost/schedule tradeoffs.
• Developing and maintaining integrated schedules, risk registers, procurement and subcontract plans, resource plans, and program budgets.
• Working with Systems Engineering and Responsible Engineering Authorities to meet technical requirements and program milestones.
• Aligning program strategy, product roadmaps, and execution priorities with customer requirements, contracts, and business objectives.
• Identifying and resolving systemic technical, operational, and organizational challenges while driving continuous improvement.
• Leading program governance, change control, performance reviews, and cross-functional decision-making.
• Serving as the primary program interface with executive leadership, customers, and strategic partners, including formal reviews and reporting.
• Fostering accountability, collaboration, and a professional, results-oriented working environment.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• BS in Engineering, Aerospace, Business, Operations Management, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, or complex hardware development.
• 5+ years leading complex, cross-functional programs with accountability for cost, schedule, technical performance, and business outcomes.
• Strong understanding of engineering development, manufacturing operations, production planning, supply chain, and integrated product lifecycles.
• Demonstrated financial acumen in budgeting, forecasting, cost management, and capital investment decisions.
• Proven ability to resolve complex execution challenges, improve operational performance, and lead organizational change.
• Strong leadership, business judgment, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience with integrated scheduling, program controls, business intelligence, and technical reporting tools.
• Ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship.

Desired

• Experience leading launch vehicle, propulsion, spacecraft, or similar programs from concept through launch.
• Experience transitioning complex hardware programs into repeatable, higher-rate manufacturing.
• Experience recovering underperforming programs or leading major organizational transformations.
• Experience with U.S. Government customers, particularly the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community.
• Familiarity with EVM, integrated master scheduling, configuration management, engineering change control, and aerospace quality systems.
• Experience with responsive launch, cost-constrained programs, subcontractors, and lower-tier suppliers.
• Familiarity with CAD systems, APIs, and automated reporting mechanisms.
• Experience in fast-paced aerospace environments outside traditional large prime contractors.
• PMP certification, MBA, MS in Engineering, or related advanced qualification.

Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, relocation benefits, 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.