Launch Operations Lead — Space Launch Pad & Systems

Firefly Aerospace, Inc.; Austin, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 175,000; 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, Inc. is seeking a technical manager to lead propulsion, fluids, electrical, and mechanical engineering teams at Vandenberg SLC-2, guiding system upgrades and ensuring readiness for launch campaigns.

You will oversee operations, maintenance, and testing of launch pad systems, while shaping maintenance strategies and collaborating with customers and partners to meet regulatory and safety requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering or related field.
• 5+ years hands-on experience with fluids, pneumatics, hydraulics, electrical systems or test operations.
• 2+ years managing personnel and leading teams.
• Experience with launch vehicle operations and console readiness.
• Ability to read engineering docs and interpret drawings/test data.
• Experience with regulatory standards and proposal support.
• Familiarity with Python, LabView or Matlab for data viewing.

Responsibilities

• Lead operation, maintenance and testing of launch pad fluids and related systems.
• Guide design reviews and coordinate with multidisciplinary teams for upgrades.
• Support system integrity testing and readiness for launch campaigns.
• Mentor and onboard the launch operations engineering team.
• Develop procedures and maintenance strategies to maximize availability.

Skills

Fluids systems

Pneumatic systems

Hydraulic systems

Electrical systems

Flight hardware / test operations

Leadership / personnel management

Launch vehicle operations

Console operations

Regulatory knowledge (AFSPCMAN 91-710,

USG / Commercial proposals

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Tools

LabView

Matlab

Python

SVN / Bitbucket

Job description

Firefly Aerospace, Inc. is seeking a technical manager to lead propulsion, fluids, electrical, and mechanical engineering teams at Vandenberg SLC-2, guiding system upgrades and ensuring readiness for launch campaigns.

You will oversee operations, maintenance, and testing of launch pad systems, while shaping maintenance strategies and collaborating with customers and partners to meet regulatory and safety requirements.