Spacecraft Mission Operations Engineer III, Blue Ghost

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

Join the team that just landed on the Moon. Firefly Aerospace is seeking a Mission Operations Engineer III for the Blue Ghost program. Following the historic success of Mission 1, we are scaling our operations for complex, multi-manifested missions to locations like the Lunar Far Side and South Pole.

In this role, you aren't just a flight controller; you are contributing to the entire operations ecosystem. You will own the operational framework of the lander ranging from architecting the Ground System to developing the Flight Operations Products (procedures, scripts, and processes) that make lunar landing possible. You will bridge the gap between spacecraft subsystem teams and real-time execution, leading the mission from the initial mission planning process through Mission Scenario Testing and Mission Simulations. If you want to own the mission from concept to console, this is your seat.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Ground System Management

• Architect the technical foundation of the mission, defining the Concept of Operations (ConOps) and owning Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
• Lead the implementation of the entire ground segment infrastructure, towards final approval for Mission Control Center readiness and data distribution architectures.
• Direct rigorous system validation and verification campaigns, defining the criteria for Site Acceptance Testing to Mission Scenario Testing.

Flight Operations Products

• Define the operational framework various mission scenarios and vehicles, setting the standards for procedure development, automation scripts, and flight workflows.
• Chair cross-functional Working Groups, resolving complex technical conflicts between subsystem teams to finalize the operational baseline.
• Architect mission operations plans and the roadmap for ops products development.
• Drive the development strategy for software tools, ensuring a seamless and risk-free transition from system design to live operations.

Simulations and Training

• Architect parts of the campaign of "Day-in-the-Life" (DITL) simulations and mission rehearsals, defining the training objectives for high-stakes lunar maneuvers.
• Collaborate with technical teams to define the requirements for ground simulator integration and validation, write the test plans, and execute them.
• Lead the team training process, assessing readiness and managing the training activities to ensure proficiency in nominal and off-nominal execution.

Mission Execution & Long-Duration Operations

• Maintain the operational discipline and command authority required to staff critical console roles, where you will be expected to execute the mission plan, manage high-pressure anomalies, and lead the team through long-duration shifts and rehearsals.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Experience: 7+ years of professional aerospace experience with a focus on mission lifecycle.
• Mission Record: Proven track record leading a major mission phase (e.g., Launch, Landing, or RPO) and/or managing a ground segment development campaign.
• Experience: Experience architecting frameworks for ground systems, script validation protocols, or full-scale simulation campaigns. Ability to define high-level requirements and translate them into actionable plans.
• Software: Proficient in software for automating ground system tasks and mission-data processing.
• Soft Skills: Highly effective communicator that bridges the gap between technical teams and executive stakeholders. Resolves complex technical debates and make high-value decisions with minimal supervision. Able to run major work campaigns, and executes technical work. Effectively communicates when additional resources are needed by providing clearly defined goals and tasking. Demonstrated ability to mentor junior engineers and maintain high operational standards across a multi-mission fleet.

Desired

• Experience as a Flight Director or Lead Mission Controller
• Expertise in pre-launch system verification, Day-in-the-Life (DITL) testing, and Ground Readiness Tests (GRT).

Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including 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.