GNC Manager, Spacecraft ADCS

Firefly Aerospace; Cedar Park (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision plans with低

Parental leave

Educational reimbursement

Short term disability

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace is seeking a Spacecraft ADCS Manager to lead a technical team responsible for attitude control system design, analysis, and flight operations for spacecraft in LEO and cislunar space. You will own all aspects of team leadership, including recruitment, career development, budgeting, and strategic planning, while delivering mission-critical support in a fast-paced aerospace environment.

The role requires deep expertise in guidance, navigation, and control, as well as strong

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace/related field.
• 10+ years of spacecraft ADCS experience.
• 5+ years of technical leadership including directing engineers.
• Experience supporting operational spacecraft missions.
• Experience building team capabilities via mentorship and training.
• Experience managing budgets, resource planning, and forecasting.
• Experience establishing standards and best practices for ADCS.
• Excellent communication with executives and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead an ADCS team across multiple spacecraft programs.
• Set ADCS objectives and communicate priorities to team and stakeholders.
• Interface with program managers to allocate responsibilities.
• Drive ADCS strategy and roadmap, identify gaps and investments.
• Champion process and tools improvements for ADCS operations.
• Oversee daily operations for software development, analysis, and support.
• Develop and manage the ADCS budget and operating plan.
• Recruit, hire, and develop engineers; performance evaluations.
• Foster a high-performing culture and morale in a demanding environment.

Skills

Technical leadership

Python

C++

Linux

Budgeting

Mentorship

Roadmap development

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field

Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field

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 Spacecraft ADCS Manager at Firefly Aerospace, you will lead a technical team supporting attitude control system design, analysis, and flight operations for spacecraft in LEO and cislunar space. 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 spacecraft attitude determination and control 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 an ADCS team supporting multiple spacecraft programs and development efforts
• Set ADCS 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 ADCS strategy and roadmap development, identifying capability gaps and investment priorities
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives for ADCS 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 ADCS 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 spacecraft ADCS 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 spacecraft 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 ADCS 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 spacecraft subsystems and their impact on attitude control 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 mission‑critical applications
• Experience developing strategic vision, technical roadmaps, and upgrade initiatives for ADCS 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.