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 a Ground Software Engineer at Firefly Aerospace, you will design and build the mission-critical systems that operate our spacecraft and from the ground. This role requires full-stack expertise to deliver robust web applications, backend services, databases, and cloud infrastructure that power spacecraft commanding, telemetry, and real-time control.
You will develop ground systems that interface directly with our vehicles, supporting everything from pre-launch checkout to on-orbit operations. With strong skills in modern software technologies and a deep understanding of real-time control systems, you will create reliable, secure, and scalable software that ensures Firefly missions succeed from liftoff to lunar landing.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Design, implement, and maintain spacecraft ground software systems, spanning front-end, back-end, databases, and cloud services.
- Develop real-time control interfaces for commanding and telemetry visualization.
- Build and maintain React-based web applications for operator consoles and mission control tools.
- Develop backend services in Python and integrate with spacecraft APIs and communication protocols.
- Design, optimize, and maintain database solutions for mission telemetry and historical data.
- Deploy and manage containerized applications using Docker and Kubernetes.
- Implement cloud infrastructure and scaling solutions in AWS for mission operations.
- Integrate CI/CD pipelines and DevOps best practices to accelerate development and deployment.
- Collaborate with flight software, GNC, and systems engineering teams to ensure seamless end-to-end vehicle integration.
- Contribute to operations software for rehearsals, test campaigns, and live mission execution.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- BS in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical field.
- 5+ years of experience as a full-stack software engineer.
- Proficiency in modern JavaScript frameworks (React, Node.js) and Python.
- Strong experience with databases (SQL and/or NoSQL).
- Experience deploying applications with Docker and Kubernetes.
- Hands-on experience with AWS services (EC2, S3, RDS, Lambda, etc.).
- Experience designing and maintaining CI/CD pipelines (GitLab CI, Jenkins, or similar).
- Familiarity with DevOps practices including monitoring, observability, and infrastructure as code.
- Experience developing and integrating real-time control systems.
- Strong knowledge of networking, APIs, and secure software design.
Desired:
- MS in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical field.
- Experience with spacecraft or aerospace ground systems.
- Background in real-time data visualization and operator console development.
- Experience with mission simulation, hardware-in-the-loop, or flatsat test environments.
- Familiarity with aerospace communication standards (CCSDS, telemetry/command formats).
- Security certifications or experience with mission-critical cybersecurity.
- Active security clearance or eligibility to obtain one.
Skills Required
- BS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field
- 5+ years of experience in ground systems, controls, or data acquisition software
- Proficiency with LabVIEW for instrumentation, control, and operator interfaces
- Strong Python development skills for integration, automation, and analysis
- Experience working with real-time control systems and hardware integration
- Knowledge of networking, communication protocols, and data acquisition hardware
- Ability to work in high-reliability, safety-critical operational environments
- MS in Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field
- Experience with launch vehicle ground systems or aerospace test environments
- Familiarity with PLCs, SCADA, or other industrial control systems
- Background in propulsion or fluid systems instrumentation and controls
- Experience with test stand operations, engine testing, or flight hardware checkout
- Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, software containerization, and orchestration/deployment
- Familiarity with time-series database technologies for high-volume telemetry or test data
- Active security clearance or eligibility to obtain one
What We Do
Firefly Aerospace Inc. (”Firefly”) is developing a family of launch and in-space vehicles and services that provide industry-leading affordability, convenience, and reliability. Firefly’s launch vehicles utilize common technologies, manufacturing infrastructure, and launch capabilities, providing LEO launch solutions for up to ten metric tons of payload at the lowest cost per kg in the small-launch class. Combined with Firefly’s in-space vehicles, such as the Space Utility Vehicle and Blue Ghost lunar lander, Firefly will provide the space industry with a single source for missions from LEO to the surface of the Moon or beyond.
