Launch Operations Director — VSFB (Vandenberg)

Firefly Aerospace; Vandenberg Air Force Base Launch Facility 02 (CA); On-site; USD 195,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace is seeking a highly experienced leader to shepherd the Vandenberg Launch Operations and Facilities team through each launch cycle. You will guide multi-disciplinary engineering and operations teams, oversee schedules, budgets, and external stakeholder communications to meet mission requirements.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in a related field, 5+ years of aerospace leadership, and strong proficiency with MS Project/Excel, Confluence, and JIRA.

Qualifications

• Required Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Project Engineering or Aircraft Operations (equivalent military or operations experience may meet desire)
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary engineering and operations teams
• 5+ years of experience in aerospace leadership across complex systems
• Exceptional computer skills (MS Excel, MS Project, MS Visio)
• Strong communication skills in technical work environments
• Experience with Atlassian products like Confluence & JIRA
• Desired 5+ yrs running console operations for integrated vehicle and pad operations
• Familiarity with version control systems like SVN, Bitbucket, etc.
• Prior launch vehicle operations at test or launch facilities
• Working knowledge of data viewing tools in Python, LabView, MATLAB, etc.
• Experience in development and/or operations of launch vehicles USG and Commercial launch proposal support
• Familiarity with AFSPCMAN 91-710, RCC 319/324

Responsibilities

• Direct launch campaigns from pre-vehicle arrival pad preparations, integrated vehicle checkouts and on-pad launch operations
• Lead daily tag-ups for vehicle and pad campaign operations to ensure pad and vehicle work is on track.
• Manage pad preventative maintenance team to maximize pad availability and reduce operational costs
• Identify opportunities to reduce launch campaign durations and scope
• Work with vehicle and operations teams to ensure all relevant procedures, documentation and tools are updated for vehicle or site upgrades
• Develop weekly operating rhythm to ensure pad maintenance, repairs and updates are on track to complete prior to vehicle arrival
• Work with program team to develop Integrated Master Schedule for the vehicle and pad operations for each flight
• Lead intermittent schedule status reviews with the Program Managers and executive leadership showing progress, forecast and schedule metrics
• Develop financial and resource budgets to meet program directed launch cadences and upgrades
• Participate or lead hiring activities for the launch operations and facility team members
• Coordinate with SLD/30 Safety Teams to guarantee deliverables, reviews and support for each mission
• Coordinate with on base Operations teams 2ROPS, 2SLS etc., for each mission
• Ensure that all documentation, coordination, contracts, commodities and other required items are established and in place for each launch campaign

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Aerospace industry experience

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Project Engineering or Aircraft Operations

Tools

Confluence

JIRA

Python

LabVIEW

MATLAB

SVN

Bitbucket

Job description

Firefly Aerospace is seeking a highly experienced leader to shepherd the Vandenberg Launch Operations and Facilities team through each launch cycle. You will guide multi-disciplinary engineering and operations teams, oversee schedules, budgets, and external stakeholder communications to meet mission requirements.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in a related field, 5+ years of aerospace leadership, and strong proficiency with MS Project/Excel, Confluence, and JIRA.