Ground Software Manager, Launch Vehicles

Firefly Aerospace; Cedar Park (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision plans

Parental leave

Educational reimbursement

Flexible PTO options

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace is seeking a Ground Software Manager for Launch Vehicles in Cedar Park, Texas. This key position involves leading software systems development that supports our launch operations. The candidate will oversee a high-performing team responsible for engineering mission-critical ground software.

The ideal applicant will have substantial experience in aerospace software development and strong leadership skills, ensuring effective performance and collaborative efforts with various engineering departments.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in software for mission-critical systems.
• 5+ years leading technical engineering teams.
• Demonstrated experience with high-reliability systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Launch Vehicle Ground Software team.
• Manage team staffing and performance.
• Establish technical vision for software systems.

Skills

Software Development

Leadership

Command and Control Systems

Distributed Software Architectures

Real-time Telemetry

Python

Engineering Communication

Education

BS in Computer Science or related field

Advanced degree in related field

Tools

LabVIEW

AWS

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

Ground Software Manager, Launch Vehicles

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

As the Launch Vehicles Ground Software Manager at Firefly Aerospace, you will lead the team responsible for designing, developing, deploying, and operating the software systems that enable Firefly's launch vehicles test and launch operations. You will manage the engineers who build mission‑critical ground software used to command, monitor, and automate launch vehicle processing, engine testing, integrated vehicle testing, countdown, and launch.

This role combines technical leadership with organizational management. You will be responsible for building and leading a high‑performing engineering organization while driving the technical architecture, execution strategy, and long‑term evolution of Firefly's launch vehicle ground software capabilities.

Working closely with avionics, flight software, propulsion, systems engineering, launch operations, IT, and safety teams, you will ensure Firefly's ground software provides reliable, scalable, and secure command‑and‑control capabilities for both ground hardware and launch vehicles throughout development, test, and flight operations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the Launch Vehicle Ground Software team supporting engine testing, vehicle integration, launch site operations, countdown, launch, and post‑launch activities.
• Own all aspects of team staffing including recruiting, hiring, onboarding, mentoring, career development, and performance management.
• Establish technical vision and software architecture for Firefly's launch vehicle ground systems.
• Guide development of service‑oriented and distributed software architectures supporting mission‑critical operations.
• Oversee execution across software requirements, architecture, implementation, verification, validation, deployment, and operational support.
• Coordinate software development supporting launch pads, test stands, hardware‑in‑the‑loop environments, and integrated vehicle testing.
• Partner with systems engineering to define operational concepts, software requirements, interfaces, verification strategies, and system architectures.
• Ensure software systems provide reliable command, control, telemetry processing, automation, visualization, and health monitoring for launch vehicle operations.
• Drive software deployment strategies across development, integration, test, and production operational environments.
• Establish and maintain software engineering processes including architecture reviews, design reviews, configuration management, release management, verification, and operational readiness.
• Travel to and support launch campaigns, major test events, anomaly investigations, mission rehearsals, and real‑time launch operations.
• Manage team staffing plans, technical roadmaps, and long‑term capability investments.
• Foster a culture focused on engineering excellence, operational reliability, safety, continuous improvement, and collaboration.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• BS in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of experience developing or delivering software for mission‑critical, industrial control, aerospace, defense, robotics, launch vehicle, spacecraft, or other high‑reliability systems.
• 5+ years of experience leading technical engineering teams with direct management responsibilities.
• Demonstrated experience delivering complex command‑and‑control software systems supporting hardware integration and operational environments.
• Strong understanding of distributed software architectures, service‑oriented systems, and modern software deployment models.
• Experience working with real‑time telemetry, command, automation, or control systems.
• Experience integrating software with physical hardware including sensors, actuators, instrumentation, communications equipment, or RF systems.
• Familiarity with LabVIEW, Python, or similar engineering software environments.
• Demonstrated systems engineering experience translating operational needs into software architectures and technical execution plans.
• Experience managing software development throughout the full system lifecycle including requirements, architecture, verification, validation, deployment, and operations.
• Proven experience recruiting, mentoring, and developing engineering talent.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate technical concepts across engineering disciplines, customers, and executive leadership.
• Experience with launch vehicle, spacecraft, missile, aviation, or other aerospace ground systems.
• Experience developing or managing software used for launch operations, mission operations, or large‑scale industrial control systems.
• Familiarity with service‑oriented architectures, microservices, containerization, and orchestration technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes.
• Experience applying model‑based or specification‑driven engineering approaches, including the use of AI to translate system requirements into software artifacts, test cases, and implementation guidance.
• Experience with cloud infrastructure including AWS.
• Experience with high‑volume telemetry systems, messaging architectures, or time‑series databases.
• Experience with networking, cybersecurity, identity management, and secure deployment of operational systems.
• Experience supporting operational readiness reviews, launch campaigns, or real‑time engineering support.
• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related technical field.
• Active security clearance or eligibility to obtain one.

BENEFITS

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.