Chief Engineer - Software Engineering

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.

As the Chief Engineer for Software Engineering, you will lead and shape the technical direction of Firefly Aerospace’s software stack across all major programs, including our medium launch vehicle, Blue Ghost lunar lander, and upcoming fleet of orbital spacecraft. Each of these programs is vital to Firefly’s mission of enabling sustainable access to space, and you will ensure our software systems meet the highest technical standards to support their success.

With a key focus on spacecraft, you will drive the development of mission‑critical software, from flight systems to ground operations, while collaborating closely across teams to deliver high‑performing, integrated solutions.

Additionally, you will play a key role in integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and computer vision into spacecraft software, enabling advanced navigation, fault detection, autonomy, and in‑mission adaptability. As the top technical authority within the software department, you will instill engineering rigor, technical excellence, and system‑level design discipline in every aspect of software development.

• Act as the technical authority for software architecture, design, and implementation across all major programs, including spacecraft, launch vehicles, and lunar landers.
• Lead key software design reviews, ensuring compliance with mission requirements and robustness to the harsh space environment.
• Guide technical trades and architectural decisions, balancing system performance, cost, and schedule.
• Collaborate with subsystem leads to establish and manage software interfaces and dependencies, including avionics, power, and communications systems.
• Ensure rigorous software verification and validation through simulation, hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing, and mission rehearsals.
• Develop and maintain software performance budgets, including CPU utilization, memory constraints, and timing requirements.
• Incorporate AI algorithms and computer vision models to support autonomous navigation, object detection, and decision‑making during missions.
• Manage technical risks by identifying, mitigating, and tracking potential issues throughout the development lifecycle.
• Mentor and develop technical leads and junior engineers, fostering a culture of technical rigor and continuous improvement.
• Interface with internal stakeholders, external partners, and customers (e.g., NASA and commercial payload providers) to provide status updates and technical guidance.
• Represent Firefly at technical conferences, program reviews, and key industry events.
• Drive innovation by proposing improvements to software processes, tools, and future mission capabilities.

Required:

• BS in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in embedded or flight software development, preferably in spacecraft or aerospace applications.
• Expertise in C++ and software systems engineering, including requirements management, interface design, and systems integration.
• Experience managing and delivering software within highly regulated, safety‑critical environments (e.g., aerospace, defense, or automotive).
• Strong understanding of software verification and validation, including simulations and hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities, with experience guiding cross‑functional teams through complex technical challenges.
• Experience managing risk and technical performance metrics,…