Technical Project Manager II-GSE

Firefly Aerospace; Bertram (TX); On-site; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental and vision benefits

Relocation benefits

Educational reimbursement

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace seeks a Technical Program Manager to own the execution of major capital projects, including test stands, launch sites, and fixtures that enable rockets to reach orbit. You will lead engineers from concept through commissioning, tackling complex design conflicts, and keeping projects on schedule and budget.

You’ll manage multi-year, multi-million dollar programs across greenfield and brownfield sites, review P&IDs and schematics, and ensure safety and quality standards are met.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Civil engineering, or related field.
• Experience delivering multi-million dollar capital infrastructure projects.
• Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead interdisciplinary engineering teams through technical analyses and trade evaluations.
• Own end-to-end execution of capital projects ($1M–$20M+) for test stands, sites, and fixtures.
• Manage greenfield and brownfield infrastructure projects with schedule and budget discipline.
• Coordinate with procurement, construction, vendors, and internal stakeholders.
• Review technical deliverables and ensure compliance with safety standards and requirements.

Skills

Project management

Engineering leadership

Cross-functional teams

Technical trade-offs

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, or related technical field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

CAD software

Job description

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACEFirefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company that enables our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the only commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the only company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Our launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide government and commercial customers with full mission services from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space.Job SummaryThis is where the future of space infrastructure is built—and you'll be leading the charge.Firefly Aerospace is seeking an exceptional Technical Program Manager to own the execution of our most ambitious capital projects: the test stands, launch sites, and test fixtures that enable our rockets to reach orbit and our spacecraft to land on the Moon. These aren't just construction projects – these projects carry the ambition of Firefly and the United States’ ambitions in space exploration. You’ll be leading a group of engineers from concept to commissioning, racing to complete novel hardware solutions that bring the future to life.Imagine standing on a greenfield site in Texas, knowing that in 12 months, this ground will house a state-of-the-art test stand developing and qualifying the next generation of spaceflight hardware. Or you could be leading execution of the next generation launch site, upgrading it to support rapid-turnaround operations that enable 24-hour notice launches. That's the scale and impact that you'll own.In this role, you'll be both technical arbiter and project leader. When mechanical, electrical, and fluids engineers disagree on the best approach, you'll have the technical depth to evaluate the options and make the call. When a $10M project faces scope creep or schedule pressure, you'll have the PM discipline to hold the line. When an interdisciplinary team needs direction and motivation, you'll provide the leadership that keeps everyone aligned and moving forward.You'll manage multi-million dollar capital programs across greenfield and brownfield sites—building brand new test infrastructure from the ground up and modernizing existing facilities to meet tomorrow's demands. This isn't program management from behind a desk. You'll be on-site during critical milestones, working alongside engineers and construction teams. You'll review and challenge technical requirements, review and approve P&IDs, proposed operations, and electrical schematics. You'll evaluate structural calculations and make technical trade-offs to get the job done. And when your test stand fires for the first time or your launch site supports its first mission, you'll know that your technical leadership and relentless execution made it happen.If you're a technical leader who thrives on complex challenges, loves building large-scale infrastructure, and wants to see your projects directly enable humanity's expansion into space, this is your opportunity.Key ResponsibilitiesTechnical Leadership & Engineering Management:Serve as the technical arbiter for resolving engineering differences and design conflicts during project design cycles across mechanical, electrical, fluids, structures, and controls disciplinesLead interdisciplinary engineering teams (3-10 engineers) through technical analysis and trade evaluationEvaluate competing design approaches using engineering judgment, analysis, and cost-benefit trade studiesReview and approve technical deliverables including calculations, drawings, models, and specificationsEnsure design decisions align with project requirements, safety standards, and operational objectivesWork with technical teams to challenge, define, and manage technical requirements for project executionDrive technical reviews including preliminary design reviews (PDR), critical design reviews (CDR), and operational readiness reviews (ORR)Challenge engineering assumptions and push teams toward optimal solutions that balance performance, cost, and scheduleCapital Project Management:Own end-to-end execution of major capital projects ($1M - $20M+) for test fixtures, test stands, and launch sites across multiple launch vehicle and spacecraft programsManage greenfield (new construction) and brownfield (upgrades/modifications) infrastructure projects, with a primary focus on driving schedule & using best engineering judgement to improve the team’s speed-to-the-ballDevelop and maintain comprehensive project plans including scope, schedule, budget, and resource allocationControl project scope rigorously, managing change requests and preventing scope creepTrack project budgets and manage a continuous spend forecast, reporting and escalating variances/overages in schedule or budget with leadershipDevelop and manage project schedules focusing on critical path management and resource loading. Work with the appropriate Engineering and Fabrication managers to secure and justify the resources required to achieve the objectiveCoordinate with procurement, construction contractors, vendors, and internal stakeholdersManage project risks, issues, and dependencies with proactive mitigation strategiesEnsure projects are completed on time, within budget, and meeting all technical requirements and quality standardsEnsure test stands, launch sites, and other capital projects meets Firefly standards and requirements for high-pressure fluids, cryogenic propellants, high vibration systems, and measurement accuracyCoordinate integration of instrumentation and control systems, data acquisition systems, and safety systemsSupport operational transition from construction to active test operationsStakeholder Management & Communication:Communicate project status to executive leadership, including progress, risks, issues, and budget performancePresent technical briefings and executive summaries to stakeholders at all levelsManage expectations and negotiate competing priorities across multiple programsFacilitate communication between engineering, operations, construction, and business teamsEnsure alignment of project deliverables with business objectives and customer needsBuild and maintain relationships with external contractors, vendors, and regulatory agencies as requiredProcess & Documentation:Develop and maintain project documentation including project plans, technical specifications, status reports, risk registers, and meeting minutesManage project changes through formal change control processes with stakeholder communicationEnsure compliance with engineering standards, safety regulations, building codes, and aerospace industry best practicesImplement project management best practices and continuous improvement initiativesMaintain as-built documentation and lessons learned for future projectsSupport development of cost estimating databases and schedule templates for future capital projectsTeam Leadership:Provide leadership, guidance, and mentorship to project teamDrive accountability and execution across cross-functional teamsFoster collaborative problem-solving and innovationBuild high-performing teams that deliver exceptional results under challenging conditionsIdentify and develop talent within project teamsRequired QualificationsBachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, or related technical fieldMinimum 3-5 years of experience managing complex technical projects, with proven track record of delivering capital infrastructure projects on time and within budgetStrong technical foundation with ability to understand and evaluate engineering analyses, drawings, and specifications across multiple disciplinesDemonstrated ability to resolve technical conflicts and make engineering trade-off decisionsExperience managing multi-million dollar budgets and complex project schedulesStrong project management skills including planning, execution, risk management, and deliveryExperience managing cross-functional teams of 10+ people across engineering, construction, and operationsExcellent communication skills with ability to present technical information to both technical and non-technical audiencesStrong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to make decisionsProficiency with project management tools (MS Project, Primavera P6, or similar)Experience with CAD software and ability to read engineering drawings (P&IDs, electrical schematics, structural drawings)Knowledge of project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid approaches)Understanding of construction management principles and contractor coordinationAbility to work in fast-paced, dynamic environment with competing prioritiesFlexibility to travel (up to 30%) to project sites and support critical milestones including extended hoursU.S. Person status required (U.S. Citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident, Refugee, or Asylee) due to ITAR/EAR requirementsPreferred QualificationsMaster's degree in Engineering, MBA, or Master's in Engineering ManagementCertification in project management (PMP, PgMP, Scrum Master, or equivalent)10+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, energy, or petrochemical industriesDirect experience with rocket engine test stands, launch pad construction, or propulsion test facilitiesKnowledge of cryogenic fluid systems, high-pressure gas systems, and propellant handlingUnderstanding of rocket engine operations, test procedures, and safety systemsExperience with Design-Build or EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) project delivery methodsFamiliarity with NASA standards (NASA-STD-5005), AFSPC launch site standards, or similar aerospace infrastructure requirementsKnowledge of systems engineering processes and tools (requirements management, V&V, configuration management)Experience with thermal modeling, CFD analysis, or structural FEA for test stand environmentsUnderstanding of ASME pressure vessel codes, NFPA codes, and building codes relevant to test infrastructureExperience managing projects through permitting, environmental review, and regulatory approval processesProficiency with Earned Value Management (EVM) principles and cost/schedule integrationExperience with P6 Primavera, Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, or similar scheduling toolsFamiliarity with Odoo ERP or similar enterprise systemsKnowledge of AS9100 or ISO 9001 quality management systemsLean or Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt)Experience with fast-track construction schedules and compressed project timelinesPrevious experience supporting launch operations or test campaignsPrimary Level Salary Range:Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, relocation benefits, 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.