Quality Assurance Manager - Spacecraft & Avionics

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

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace is seeking a Quality Assurance Manager for Spacecraft & Avionics to lead quality operations across early-stage development and production. You will manage a 10-person team of Quality Engineers, Inspectors, NDT technicians and metrology experts, guiding APQP and DFMEA/PFMEA processes while aligning with AS9100 standards.

The role blends on-the-floor leadership with strategic oversight, focusing on building a robust quality infrastructure to support rapid growth, supplier

Qualifications

• Minimum 5–7 years in aerospace quality leadership.
• Proven experience managing multi-disciplinary quality teams (inspectors, engineers, NDT technicians).
• Deep hands-on AS9100 certification experience. Strong background in avionics systems and spacecraft manufacturing.
• BS/BA in Engineering or related field; 10+ years in quality manufacturing accepted in lieu of a degree.

Responsibilities

• Support and ensure implementation and adherence of AS9100 QMS across assigned areas.
• Direct and mentor a 10-person quality team; hire and train as needed.
• Collaborate with peer quality leaders across launch and vehicle manufacturing to align standards.
• Balance documentation management (MRB, CAPA) with hands-on floor evaluations of flight electronics and power systems.

Skills

Leadership

Quality management

AS9100 knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

BS/BA in Engineering

10+ years quality manufacturing exp

Job description

Career Opportunities with Firefly Aerospace

Come be a part of the 21 st Century Space Race!

Careers At Firefly Aerospace

Quality Assurance Manager - Spacecraft & Avionics

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.

The Quality Manager position is a high-visibility leadership role responsible for transforming quality infrastructure in the factory to support emerging growth in our Avionics and Spacecraft manufacturing factories. In this role you will lead quality operations and mission assurance for early-stage spacecraft development and production. You will bridge complex avionics engineering with high-reliability aerospace manufacturing, maintaining a balance between strategic desk-based leadership and hands-on floor engagement. This role oversees a growing 10-person multi-disciplinary quality team and you will focus on team and individual skill development, ensuring we build a quality support team required to guide and lead factory growth and development, focus on immediate tactical needs and position ourselves to focus on early engagement activities (APQP, PAPP/FAI, DFMEA, PFMEA, etc.). You will also collaborate with peer quality leaders across launch and vehicle manufacturing and support cross-site quality initiatives.

• Travel Expectation: <10% for external sites outside of the Austin, TX area

Key Responsibilities

• Support and ensure implementation and adherence of assigned areas to the company's AS9100 Quality Management System (QMS). Continually work with partner leaders to identify and tailor your assigned team for rapid growth supporting the company’s strategic plan.
• Direct and mentor a growing 10-person team, including Quality Engineers, Quality Specialists, Quality Inspectors, Receiving Inspectors, NDT technicians, and Metrology experts. Ensure solid training plans exist that enable the team’s support of both current and future goals. Identify, hire and train team members as required.
• Partner closely with peer quality leaders across launch and vehicle manufacturing to align company-wide standards. Partner closely with peer manufacturing, engineering and program teams as required to complete job activities.
• Balance equally between managing documentation (MRB, CAPA logs) and performing hands-on floor evaluations alongside the team. Oversee inspection and testing of critical flight electronics, power systems, and harness assemblies.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 5–7 years in aerospace quality leadership. Minimum 2 – 5 years with a focus on spacecraft or launch vehicles.
• Proven experience managing multi-disciplinary quality teams (inspectors, engineers, NDT technicians).
• Deep, hands-on experience managing and auditing AS9100 certification standards. Strong background in complex avionics systems, flight hardware, and spacecraft manufacturing.
• BS/BA in Engineering, Material Science, or a related technical field. 10+ experience in quality manufacturing and aerospace/space manufacturing accepted in lieu of a degree.

Preferred Qualifications

• Preferred 5 – 7 years’ experience in spacecraft or launch vehicles. IPC-A-610, IPC/WHMA-A-620 or J-STD-001 with Space Addendum certified preferred. Active certification as a trainer a plus.
• Machine shop experience within a production environment a plus.
• Strong understanding of GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing) and machine shop inspection techniques.