Payload Processing Facility Manager

Career Opportunities with Firefly Aerospace Firefly is scaling Alpha to a high launch cadence and expanding its payload processing facility into a dual‑purpose operation: Fast, reliable processing for every satellite flying on Alpha (dedicated and rideshare). Short‑term lease of cleanroom bays, equipment, and support services to external customers whose spacecraft will launch on non‑Firefly launch vehicles. Significant upgrade projects of the facility to enhance capabilities and expand capacity. We need an exceptional leader who can simultaneously deliver flawless on‑time processing for Firefly’s own Alpha missions while also operating the facility as a commercial, multi‑user asset. Primary Responsibilities: Full ownership of day‑to‑day facility operations, budget, staffing, and revenue from external rentals. Deliver consistently short processing timelines for Alpha missions (target 5–10 business days from spacecraft arrival to fairing encapsulation). Build and manage a commercial leasing program: pricing, contracts, scheduling, and customer onboarding for third‑party users. Maintain required environmental cleanliness levels, contamination monitoring, ESD protection, and hazardous‑processing capabilities (hydrazine, cold‑gas, green propellants, small ordnance). Provide environmental updates/reports to internal and external customers. Work with the Firefly Mission Management team to support customer reviews. Work with and lead a shared team of technicians, engineers, safety specialists, and logistics personnel; scale the organization as launch rate and rental demand grow. Serve as the launch sites’ primary interface with every payload customer — internal and external — from contract kick‑off through final handover to the launch pad. Keep all facility certifications current and ensure full compliance with range safety, ITAR/EAR, and Firefly safety standards. Coordinate facility upgrades and new capability additions in parallel with ongoing internal and external customer campaigns. Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, aerospace, or operations‑related field. 5+ years working in satellite or payload processing cleanrooms. Hands‑on experience running or supporting commercial payload processing campaigns for orbital launch vehicles. Proven track record operating a shared or multi‑tenant processing facility (commercial, government, or contractor‑owned). Comfortable negotiating and closing facility‑use agreements or service contracts with commercial spacecraft operators. Thorough understanding of cleanroom protocols, contamination control plans, and hazardous operations safety. Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen or permanent resident) Preferred Qualifications Hold or ability to obtain Top Secret clearance. Previous leadership role at a commercial space company or payload processing contractor. Direct familiarity with small‑lift fairing encapsulation and Alpha‑class payloads. Experience with hydrazine/propellant loading operations and associated safety protocols. Experience bringing a new processing building online or executing major facility expansions. Existing relationships within the rideshare, small‑sat, or constellation community. Must be willing to travel up to 25 % to other Firefly offices, test or launch sites. Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr