Spacecraft ADCS Lead — Attitude Control Systems

Firefly Aerospace, Inc.; Leander (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Sabbatical every 5 years

Health, dental and vision insurance

Life and disability insurance

Mental health services

Paid maternity leave

Paid parental leave

Stock bonuses

401(k) match

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace, Inc. in Texas invites an experienced Spacecraft ADCS Manager to lead a skilled team responsible for attitude determination and control systems across multiple spacecraft programs in LEO and cislunar space.

You will own recruitment, career development, and performance management while guiding budgets, roadmaps, and operational excellence. The role blends hands-on engineering leadership with strategic planning in a fast-paced aerospace environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field.
• Advanced degree (master's or PhD) in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead an ADCS team supporting multiple spacecraft programs and development efforts.
• Set ADCS objectives and communicate priorities to team members and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Interface with program managers and mission stakeholders to allocate team responsibilities and establish execution schedules.
• Drive ADCS strategy and roadmap development, identifying capability gaps and investment priorities.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives for ADCS processes, tools, and operational efficiency.
• Direct daily operations of the team ensuring timely delivery of mission-critical software development, analysis, and operational support.
• Develop and manage the ADCS budget and annual operating plan.
• Own all aspects of team staffing including hiring, onboarding, and workforce planning.
• Conduct performance evaluations and drive career development through mentorship and coaching of engineers at all levels.
• Foster a healthy team culture and maintain high morale in a demanding technical and operational environment.

Skills

ADCS expertise

Technical leadership

Excellent communication

Mentorship & coaching

Budget planning

Staffing & workforce planning

Python

C++

Linux

Strategic roadmaps

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or related field

Master's or PhD in related field

Tools

C++

Python

Linux

Job description

Firefly Aerospace, Inc. in Texas invites an experienced Spacecraft ADCS Manager to lead a skilled team responsible for attitude determination and control systems across multiple spacecraft programs in LEO and cislunar space.

You will own recruitment, career development, and performance management while guiding budgets, roadmaps, and operational excellence. The role blends hands-on engineering leadership with strategic planning in a fast-paced aerospace environment.