Life at Firefly
At Firefly, we’re focused on making space attainable for everyone – including you! Each team member’s passion, dedication, and innovative ideas have a direct impact on fueling our successful trajectory into space. And there’s no shortage of meaningful projects to work on at Firefly. With launch, lunar, and orbital vehicles, Firefly has a diverse line of business with opportunities to get hands-on experience launching rockets, operating in space, and landing on the Moon.
Our missions are powered by our incredible team members and the family and friends who stand by them.
Over the weekend, we welcomed our Firefly families to our Rocket Ranch in Briggs, TX, for a fun-filled day of celebration and a behind-the-scenes look at the work that brings us closer to the stars.
To the families and friends who support us, THANK YOU! Together, we’re building the future of space exploration for generations to come. 🌎✨
Our missions are powered by our incredible team members and the family and friends who stand by them.
Over the weekend, we welcomed our Firefly families to our Rocket Ranch in Briggs, TX, for a fun-filled day of celebration and a behind-the-scenes look at the work that brings us closer to the stars.
To the families and friends who support us, THANK YOU! Together, we’re building the future of space exploration for generations to come. 🌎✨
What does SciTec bring to the Firefly family?
SciTec President David Simenc explains how its advanced defense technologies help protect our nation in this episode of Firefly FAQ.
Check it out!
What does SciTec bring to the Firefly family?
SciTec President David Simenc explains how its advanced defense technologies help protect our nation in this episode of Firefly FAQ.
Check it out!
Peep our Elytra orbiter being assembled in the cleanroom 👀.
This spacecraft is part of our Riders 2 the Dark mission — America`s first mission to land on the Moon`s far side.
Without direct line-of-sight to Earth, communication on the far side is impossible without a relay. That`s where our Elytra orbiter comes in 🛰️. Elytra will serve as a transfer vehicle and communications bridge between Blue Ghost and Earth, enabling critical science operations on the lunar surface and setting the stage for future missions.
Peep our Elytra orbiter being assembled in the cleanroom 👀.
This spacecraft is part of our Riders 2 the Dark mission — America`s first mission to land on the Moon`s far side.
Without direct line-of-sight to Earth, communication on the far side is impossible without a relay. That`s where our Elytra orbiter comes in 🛰️. Elytra will serve as a transfer vehicle and communications bridge between Blue Ghost and Earth, enabling critical science operations on the lunar surface and setting the stage for future missions.
Start your week with another Manufacturing Minute! Our Quality Metrologist, Chase Auker, takes us behind the scenes to show how laser trackers measure rocket and spacecraft components with incredible accuracy.
Start your week with another Manufacturing Minute! Our Quality Metrologist, Chase Auker, takes us behind the scenes to show how laser trackers measure rocket and spacecraft components with incredible accuracy.
This World Space Week, remember to look up and imagine what`s possible. Because every great leap forward starts with a bold idea💡.
Dream bigger. Go farther.
#WorldSpaceWeek
This World Space Week, remember to look up and imagine what`s possible. Because every great leap forward starts with a bold idea💡.
Dream bigger. Go farther.
#WorldSpaceWeek
Happy National Manufacturing Day! 🛠️
Today, we’re celebrating the people who make it all happen.
From building spacecraft components and rocket engines to assembling and testing launch vehicles, our manufacturing teams bring incredible skill, care, and pride to their work every day.
Swipe ➡️ to see our incredible manufacturing team taking us beyond Earth.
Happy National Manufacturing Day! 🛠️
Today, we’re celebrating the people who make it all happen.
From building spacecraft components and rocket engines to assembling and testing launch vehicles, our manufacturing teams bring incredible skill, care, and pride to their work every day.
Swipe ➡️ to see our incredible manufacturing team taking us beyond Earth.
Say hello to RTx 👋🏼
RTx is a ground-penetrating radar transmitter on the @mbrspacecentre`s Rashid Rover 2.
Flying aboard our Riders 2 the Dark mission, RTx will transmit signals that can probe up to 100 meters below the Moon’s surface. These signals will be received by NASA`s LuSEE-Night instrument on our Blue Ghost lander, helping scientists better understand the history and presence of minerals on the Moon.
RTx is a collaboration between Brookhaven National Laboratory, Heliospace Corp. and Southwest Research Institute.
Say hello to RTx 👋🏼
RTx is a ground-penetrating radar transmitter on the @mbrspacecentre`s Rashid Rover 2.
Flying aboard our Riders 2 the Dark mission, RTx will transmit signals that can probe up to 100 meters below the Moon’s surface. These signals will be received by NASA`s LuSEE-Night instrument on our Blue Ghost lander, helping scientists better understand the history and presence of minerals on the Moon.
RTx is a collaboration between Brookhaven National Laboratory, Heliospace Corp. and Southwest Research Institute.
The engine powering Alpha`s first stage is truly out of this world. Swipe to learn what makes Reaver special ➡️
The engine powering Alpha`s first stage is truly out of this world. Swipe to learn what makes Reaver special ➡️
Our Values
Headquartered in the Lone Star State, Firefly’s hardworking team reflects Texas’ GO BIG culture in everything we do. We build big, achieve big, and dream big. We’re building launch vehicles and spacecraft to provide rapid, reliable space access. We’ve achieved some incredible wins, including the first successful commercial Moon landing. And we’re dreaming bigger than this planet with ambitions to Mars, Venus, and beyond. Our core values are what drive us along the way.
Our Benefits
We take care of our Fireflies with some of the best benefits in the industry. Our mission to make space for everyone starts with our employees and allowing them to make space for their family, their career, and their future.
Job Openings
From launch technicians to propulsion engineers, Firefly has open roles across the company. We’re looking for passionate, bright innovators to join our team and help make space an achievable dream for everyone.
GNC Manager, Launch Vehicles
ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE
Firefly 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.
SUMMARY
As the Launch Vehicle GNC Manager at Firefly Aerospace, you will lead a technical team supporting guidance, navigation, and control system design, analysis, and flight operations for operational launch vehicles. In this role, you will own all aspects of team leadership including recruitment, career development, and performance management while driving strategic planning, budget management, and operational execution. This position combines technical expertise in launch vehicle GNC with organizational leadership, requiring you to build team capabilities, foster a high-performing culture, and deliver mission-critical support in a fast-paced aerospace environment.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead a GNC team supporting multiple launch vehicle programs and development efforts
- Set GNC 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 GNC strategy and roadmap development, identifying capability gaps and investment priorities
- Champion continuous improvement initiatives for GNC 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 GNC 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
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field
- 10+ years of experience in launch vehicle GNC with demonstrated expertise across guidance, navigation, and control system design
- 5+ years of technical leadership experience including directing the work of other engineers and technical staff
- Demonstrated experience supporting operational launch vehicle missions through multiple mission phases
- Demonstrated success building team capabilities through mentorship, training, and career development
- Experience managing team budgets, resource planning, and workforce forecasting
- Experience establishing technical standards, processes, and best practices for GNC organizations
- Excellent communication skills with ability to convey complex technical concepts to executives, customers, and non-technical stakeholders
- Ability to foster a collaborative team culture while meeting demanding mission schedules
Desired
- Advanced degree (master's or PhD) in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field
- Knowledge of launch vehicle subsystems and their impact on GNC system design and performance
- Proven ability to recruit, hire, develop, and retain high-performing technical talent
- Experience with Python and Linux
- Proficiency in real-time software development using C++ for flight-critical applications
- Experience developing strategic vision, technical roadmaps, and upgrade initiatives for GNC teams
- Experience leading or supporting anomaly investigations and resolving critical mission issues
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.