Launch Operations Manager, VSFB Strategy & Ops

Frontdoor Defense; California; Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision plans

Educational reimbursement

Parental leave

Flexible PTO

Short-term disability

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace is seeking a Launch Operations Manager to lead the propulsion, fluids, electrical, and mechanical engineers at VSFB. The role focuses on operating, maintaining, and testing launch pad systems to ensure readiness for campaigns.

Based in California, you will guide cross-functional teams, drive system upgrades, and ensure safety/regulatory compliance throughout launch activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering or related discipline.
• 5+ years in fluids, pneumatics, mechanisms, hydraulics, electrical systems, tooling, flight hardware or test operations.
• 2+ years of managing personnel; ability to lead teams in high-pressure environments.
• Ability to interpret drawings, P&ID schematics and test data.
• Strong communication for cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Fluids systems

Pneumatic systems

Mechanisms

Hydraulic systems

Electrical systems

Tooling

Flight hardware

Test operations

Leadership

Engineering documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

SVN

Bitbucket

Python

LabView

Matlab

Job description

Launch Operations Manager, VSFB

Lead the ignition of a reliable, scalable launch operations program at VSFB

Location: California

Compensation: $145,000 - 175,000 USD / year

About The Role

Firefly Aerospace Technical Manager

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

Firefly' Launch team is hiring for high-impact, dynamic engineering position for those who thrive on solving real problems in diverse environments. We are looking for a technical manager to lead the propulsion, fluids, electrical, and mechanical engineers at Vandenberg SLC-2. In addition to personnel and technical leadership, this role will contribute to the operation, upgrade and maintenance of all launch pad systems.

Responsibilities

Lead operation, maintenance and testing of the launch pad fluids, pneumatic mechanical, and electrical systems.

Facilitate hiring, training, and onboarding activities for the launch operations engineering team

Guide design reviews and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including design engineers, technicians, external partners, and site personnel to drive system upgrades, streamline operations, and validate system readiness and performance for launch campaigns.

Support launch pad system and flight vehicle system integrity testing to validate system health, performance and readiness for launch campaigns.

Lead troubleshooting efforts, resolve any issues and non-conformances that arise during operations/testing, and support anomaly investigations

Perform launch console operations or launch day close out team activities

Write procedures for system operation, maintenance, and vehicle testing operations.

Develop and execute maintenance strategies that maximize system availability and minimize downtime between missions.

Collaborate with customers, external stakeholders, and design teams to ensure interoperability and compliance with regulatory and range safety requirements.

Provide technical write-ups for systems upgrade proposals or tailoring of regulations.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or related engineering discipline
• 5+ years of hands-on experience with fluids systems, pneumatic systems, mechanisms, hydraulic systems, 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 in an operational or project environment.
• Ability to create and interpret engineering documentation including drawings, P&ID schematics and test data.
• Able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high pressure fast-paced environment
• Ability to self-motivate and take the initiative to ensure your systems are functional and operating at peak performance
• Lead by example and work ethic
• Ability to convey complex technical information clearly and concisely to technical and non-technical audiences
• Comfortable working in launch site environments with field testing, lifting equipment, and hazardous materials.

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

Salary Range: $145,000 - $175,000

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.