Program Manager - Spacecraft

About Firefly Aerospace

Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company on a mission to reliably and repeatedly launch, land, and operate space systems from Earth to the Moon and beyond. 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. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space.

About the Role

As a Space Mission Program Manager, you are the person who leads and organizes internal and external engineering, manufacturing and test activities, and leads program execution for highly complex space missions. You deliver high-performance space systems that solve some of the most challenging problems on and off this planet on time and on budget. You are accountable for delivering space systems to government and commercial customers. You are also accountable for delivering financial results to Firefly. You may be leading space programs in Space Control, Space Domain Awareness, Remote Sensing, Lunar Landing, Communications, Science, or a variety of other mission areas. The ideal candidate is someone who loves leading high stakes and rapid pace programs, delivering first of their kind space systems.

What You’ll Do

• You will be responsible and accountable leading program for on-time, on-budget delivery.
• You will maintain schedules, risk lists, procurement plans, subcontract management plans, internal manpower plans, and budgets (manpower, direct costs, subcontracts, travel, etc.)
• You will report regularly to the Senior Leadership Team and your customer
• You will track all internal and external deliverables, prepare and present formal and informal design and progress reviews
• You will work closely with Systems Engineers and Responsible Engineering Authorities to ensure that our systems meet all requirements and achieve all milestones, while staying within strict budgetary constraints
• Work with the Program Team to identify potential programmatic and technical risks, assess impacts, and mitigate risks to keep the program on track.

What We’re Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, management or related work experience
• 5+ years of project management experience, strong communication skills, and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams in complex technical environments
• Experience creating, maintaining, and managing detailed execution schedules
• This position requires the ability to obtain a US Security Clearance for which the US Government requires US Citizenship.

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering or similar technical field
• Strong technical aptitude
• Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills
• Experience with rapid development projects
• Experience working with US Government customers
• Proven ability to deliver on-time, on-budget
• Concept-to-launch experience on satellite missions
• Experience with cost-constrained and budget-constrained space programs
• Experience with aerospace environments other than traditional large prime contractors
• Experience with Intelligence Community and Department of War customer communities and project management practices
• Experience with supply chain, manufacturing and lower tier suppliers
• Ability to determine what is needed to achieve program goals and leave business as usual behind
• Active U.S. Top Secret security clearance