GNC Manager, Launch Vehicles

Firefly Aerospace; Cedar Park (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental and vision plans

Parental leave

Educational reimbursement

Short term disability

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace, headquartered in north Austin, Texas, seeks a Launch Vehicle GNC Manager to lead a technical team responsible for guidance, navigation, and control design, analysis, and flight operations for operational launch vehicles.

This role owns all aspects of leadership, including recruitment, career development, performance management, budgeting, and strategic planning, while driving a high‑performing culture and delivering mission‑critical support in a fast-paced aerospace

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical engineering, physics or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in launch vehicle GNC with expertise in guidance, navigation and control.
• 5+ years of technical leadership including directing engineers and staff.
• Experience supporting operational launch vehicle missions across multiple phases.
• Advanced degree in a related field is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead a GNC team supporting multiple launch vehicle programs and development efforts.
• Set GNC objectives and communicate priorities to team and stakeholders.
• Interface with program managers to allocate responsibilities and schedules.
• Drive GNC strategy, roadmap, and capabilty investments.
• Champion process improvements for GNC tools and operations.
• Oversee daily operations and timely delivery of software and analysis.
• Develop and manage the GNC budget and operating plan.
• Own staffing, hiring, onboarding and workforce planning.
• Mentor engineers and drive career development across levels.
• Maintain high morale in a demanding technical environment.

Skills

Technical leadership

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Mentorship

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or related field

Master's or PhD in related field

Tools

Python

Linux

C++

Job description

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.

SUMMARY

As the Launch Vehicle GNC Manager at Firefly Aerospace, you will lead a technical team supporting guidance, navigation, and control system design, analysis, and flight operations for operational launch vehicles. In this role, you will own all aspects of team leadership including recruitment, career development, and performance management while driving strategic planning, budget management, and operational execution. This position combines technical expertise in launch vehicle GNC with organizational leadership, requiring you to build team capabilities, foster a high-performing culture, and deliver mission-critical support in a fast-paced aerospace environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead a GNC team supporting multiple launch vehicle programs and development efforts
• Set GNC objectives and communicate priorities to team members and cross‑functional stakeholders
• Interface with program managers and mission stakeholders to allocate team responsibilities and establish execution schedules
• Drive GNC strategy and roadmap development, identifying capability gaps and investment priorities
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives for GNC processes, tools, and operational efficiency
• Direct daily operations of the team ensuring timely delivery of mission‑critical software development, analysis, and operational support
• Develop and manage the GNC budget and annual operating plan
• Own all aspects of team staffing including hiring, onboarding, and workforce planning
• Conduct performance evaluations and drive career development through mentorship and coaching of engineers at all levels
• Foster a healthy team culture and maintain high morale in a demanding technical and operational environment

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field
• 10+ years of experience in launch vehicle GNC with demonstrated expertise across guidance, navigation, and control system design
• 5+ years of technical leadership experience including directing the work of other engineers and technical staff
• Demonstrated experience supporting operational launch vehicle missions through multiple mission phases
• Demonstrated success building team capabilities through mentorship, training, and career development
• Experience managing team budgets, resource planning, and workforce forecasting
• Experience establishing technical standards, processes, and best practices for GNC organizations
• Excellent communication skills with ability to convey complex technical concepts to executives, customers, and non‑technical stakeholders
• Ability to foster a collaborative team culture while meeting demanding mission schedules
• Advanced degree (master's or PhD) in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field
• Knowledge of launch vehicle subsystems and their impact on GNC system design and performance
• Proven ability to recruit, hire, develop, and retain high‑performing technical talent
• Experience with Python and Linux
• Proficiency in real‑time software development using C++ for flight‑critical applications
• Experience developing strategic vision, technical roadmaps, and upgrade initiatives for GNC teams
• Experience leading or supporting anomaly investigations and resolving critical mission issues

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.