Launch Operations Lead: Pad Systems & Testing

Firefly Aerospace, Inc.; California; On-site; USD 145,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plan

Dental plan

Vision plan

Parental leave

Relocation help

Educational reimbursement

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace, Inc. is seeking a technical manager to lead propulsion, fluids, electrical, and mechanical engineers at Vandenberg SLC-2.

You will oversee operations, maintenance, testing, and upgrades for launch pad systems and related vehicle hardware, ensuring readiness for high-stakes campaigns. The role requires 5+ years in fluids/packaged systems, 2+ years of people leadership, strong documentation skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced launch environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering or related field.
• 5+ years hands-on experience with fluids, pneumatics, mechanisms, hydraulics, electrical systems, tooling, flight hardware or test operations.
• 2+ years of managing personnel.
• Experience designing, building, troubleshooting, and/or operating complex fluid or pneumatic systems.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, P&ID schematics and test data.

Responsibilities

• Lead operation, maintenance and testing of launch pad fluids, pneumatic mechanical, and electrical systems.
• Facilitate hiring, training, and onboarding for the launch operations engineering team.
• Guide design reviews and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to drive system upgrades and ensure readiness for launches.
• Support system integrity testing to validate health, performance and readiness for launch campaigns.
• Lead troubleshooting and investigations of issues and non-conformances during operations.
• Perform launch console operations or launch day close-out activities.
• Write procedures for system operation, maintenance, and vehicle testing.
• Develop maintenance strategies to maximize system availability and minimize downtime.
• Collaborate with customers and stakeholders to ensure regulatory compliance and safe operations.
• Provide technical write-ups for system upgrades and tailoring of regulations.

Skills

Fluid systems

Electrical systems

Pneumatic systems

Mechanical systems

Flight hardware

Test operations

People management

Engineering documentation

Launch operations

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

Aerospace engineering

Tools

SVN

Bitbucket

Python

LabView

MATLAB

Job description

Firefly Aerospace, Inc. is seeking a technical manager to lead propulsion, fluids, electrical, and mechanical engineers at Vandenberg SLC-2.

You will oversee operations, maintenance, testing, and upgrades for launch pad systems and related vehicle hardware, ensuring readiness for high-stakes campaigns. The role requires 5+ years in fluids/packaged systems, 2+ years of people leadership, strong documentation skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced launch environment.