Chief Engineer, Spacecraft

Firefly Aerospace; United States; On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Relocation assistance

Educational reimbursement

Paid time off

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace seeks a Chief Engineer to define vehicle-level architecture and lead interdisciplinary optimization for missions from LEO to beyond. You will manage system trades, analyze budget constraints, and serve as the primary technical authority across the full mission lifecycle.

Based at our Briggs, TX facility, you will mentor teams and ensure robust engineering rationale for all vehicle decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related discipline.
• 8+ years hands-on experience solving engineering problems in design, analysis, test, or operations of launch vehicle/spacecraft systems.
• Strong understanding of orbital mechanics.
• Willingness to travel ~10% of time; higher during testing/launch.
• Excellent verbal and written communication; flexible and organized.

Responsibilities

• Define vehicle-level architecture, capabilities, specifications, operations, and interdisciplinary optimization.
• Lead system-level trades to drive innovation in vehicle design and functionality.
• Analyze budgets (mass, delta‑V, power, data) for feasibility and success.
• Chair design reviews and ensure adherence to standards and risk posture.
• Provide real-time technical support during missions and operations.

Skills

Orbital mechanics

System architecture

Technical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Risk management

Change management

On-console mission support

Regulatory compliance ITAR

Communication skills

Problem solving under pressure

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Master's or PhD in engineering

Tools

Confluence

Jira

Bitbucket

Teamcenter

Epsilon3

Odoo TS/SCI security clearance or ability to obtain one

Job description

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

Chief Engineering serves as the technical cornerstone of Firefly's space ecosystem vision, defining vehicle-level architecture and capabilities that reliably deliver missions from low Earth Orbit to the Moon and beyond. Chief Engineers are charged with integrating cutting‑edge technologies with disciplined risk management to ensure mission success while maintaining the highest standards of engineering excellence. As guardians of Firefly's technical integrity, Chief Engineers bridge the gap between visionary concepts and operational reality, empowering our company to enable our world to launch, land, and operate in space. Anytime. Anywhere. In this role, you will lead interdisciplinary optimization for your assigned program, serving as the customer-facing technical point of contact throughout the full mission lifecycle. You'll conduct system‑level trades, analyze system commodity budgets, and develop innovative solutions that enhance vehicle capabilities. As the primary technical authority, you will ensure robust engineering rationale underpins all vehicle‑level decisions, ultimately enabling Firefly to achieve its mission of making space accessible through reliable, innovative transportation systems. Based out of our Hive Spacecraft facility, this position requires regular presence at our Production and Test facility north of Cedar Park in Briggs, TX.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Define vehicle‑level architecture, capabilities, specifications, operations, and interdisciplinary optimization in alignment with Firefly objectives
• Influence and direct configuration requirements by conducting, evaluating, and leading system‑level trades to drive innovation in vehicle design and functionality
• Analyze and optimize mass, delta V, power, and data budgets, ensuring technical feasibility and operational success
• Chair vehicle‑level design and milestone reviews, holding the team to the Firefly and Program standards to meet the risk posture of the program
• Develop innovative solutions for vehicle design and operations, integrating modern technologies to improve program capabilities
• Identify creative ways to achieve standardization and commonality of component selection and integrated system designs across Firefly programs/product lines
• Own the technical risk posture for assigned program/product and missions as the authority for vehicle risk
• Actively reduce system vulnerabilities though robust root cause investigation, change management, corrective action, and risk mitigation/verification plans
• Review and validate designs, work instructions, nonconformances, test plans, and test procedures across sub‑systems
• Manage program risks by identifying, mitigating, and tracking potential technical issues, while enabling cross‑department/program communication of impacts risks and associated changes
• Provide real time (on-console) support for integrated operations, working to resolve live anomalies during mission operations
• Lead interdisciplinary efforts in coordination with Business Development, Engineering, Program Management, and Operations for your assigned program/product
• Collaborate with Production, Integration, and Quality Assurance departments to ensure seamless operations
• Act as the primary technical point of contact for customers, vendors, and program partners across the full lifecycle (from proposal through end of mission data reviews)
• Represent Firefly at conferences, reviews, and investor meetings
• Lead Mission Readiness and Data Reviews to ensure the vehicle and personnel are ready to support missions for assigned program/product
• Provide technical mentorship to the team and facilitate the training pipeline for the Chief Engineering team

QUALIFICATIONS

• Required Bachelor's degree in engineering or related discipline (e.g. computer science, mathematics, physics)
• 8+ years of hands‑on experience with engineering problem solving in design, analysis, test, or operations of launch vehicle and/or spacecraft systems
• Demonstrated ability to apply engineering fundamentals, including a strong understanding of orbital mechanics
• Ability to travel approximately 10% of the time, with higher percentages in support of environmental test and launch
• Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and written
• Flexibility regarding workflow and process
• Excellent organization skills; willingness to work with a team, share expertise, and follow instructions to accomplish established goals
• Desired Master's or PhD degree in engineering or related discipline (e.g. computer science, mathematics, physics)
• 10+ years of professional, hands‑on experience in aerospace engineering field (design, analysis, manufacturing, test, or operations at the vehicle‑level)
• Demonstrated competency with engineering design configuration, risk management, and change management
• Ability to anticipate the impacts of vehicle‑level changes to launch vehicle and/or spacecraft systems
• Experience serving as the primary technical authority over a full spacecraft lifecycle, from kickoff to mission completion
• On‑console test experience or support of launch vehicle and/or spacecraft system operations
• Experience with real‑time troubleshooting and anomaly resolution in high‑stakes environments
• Comprehensive understanding of aerospace manufacturing processes, materials, and specifications
• Experience working in a clean room environment (e.g. ISO 14644‑1:2015(E) Class 8)
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and industry standards such as Range Safety, AS9100, and SMC Standards
• Experience with Atlassian products (Confluence, Jira, Bitbucket), Teamcenter, Epsilon3, and/or Odoo TS/SCI security clearance or ability to obtain one
• Planetary science experience

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.

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.