Ground Software Manager, Spacecraft

Manager, Spacecraft Ground Software

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 first commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the first 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.

As the Manager, Spacecraft Ground Software at Firefly Aerospace, you will lead the organization responsible for designing, developing, deploying, and operating the software systems that enable Firefly's spacecraft throughout assembly, integration and test, launch, and on-orbit mission operations. You will establish the long-term technical vision for Firefly's spacecraft ground segment software suite while managing the engineering organization responsible for spacecraft command and control, mission operations software, telemetry processing, mission planning, data processing pipelines, operator interfaces, and the software platforms that enable mission operations.

This role combines organizational leadership with deep technical systems expertise. You will serve as the primary technical authority for Firefly's enterprise spacecraft ground software architecture, driving the evolution of a common, scalable ground software platform that supports multiple spacecraft programs, customers, and mission types. You will lead a growing engineering organization responsible for delivering highly reliable mission-critical software supporting lunar missions, national security programs, and future exploration initiatives.

Working closely with spacecraft operations, flight software, systems engineering, assembly, integration and test (AI&T), IT infrastructure, networking, cybersecurity, and enterprise engineering teams, you will ensure Firefly's spacecraft ground software suite provides secure, scalable, and operationally robust capabilities throughout every phase of a mission from vehicle integration and testing through launch, on-orbit operations, and mission completion.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the Spacecraft Ground Software organization in the design and development of software systems supporting spacecraft integration, testing, mission rehearsals, launch campaigns, commissioning, and on-orbit mission operations.
• Establish the long-term technical vision and architecture for Firefly's enterprise spacecraft ground software ecosystem.
• Build, mentor, and grow a high-performing engineering organization through recruiting, hiring, technical leadership, career development, and performance management.
• Drive the evolution of service-oriented and distributed software architectures supporting mission-critical spacecraft operations.
• Drive architectural standardization and reusable software platforms across Firefly spacecraft programs to reduce mission-specific development and improve operational consistency.
• Partner with spacecraft operations, flight software, systems engineering, AI&T, IT infrastructure, networking, cybersecurity, and enterprise engineering teams to develop integrated operational solutions.
• Oversee execution across the complete software lifecycle, including requirements development, architecture, implementation, verification, validation, deployment, operations, and sustainment.
• Lead software systems engineering activities, translating mission concepts and operational requirements into scalable technical architectures and execution plans.
• Ensure reliable spacecraft commanding, telemetry processing, mission planning, data processing, visualization, automation, and operator workflows across all spacecraft programs.
• Guide deployment strategies spanning development environments, hardware-in-the-loop test beds, integration facilities, mission operations centers, cloud infrastructure, and operational venues.
• Establish engineering processes including architecture reviews, design reviews, configuration management, release management, verification, operational readiness, and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate closely with mission operations during rehearsals, launch campaigns, anomaly resolution, and real-time spacecraft operations.
• Develop technical roadmaps supporting future multi-mission, multi-tenant, highly available, and cloud-enabled ground software architectures.
• Foster a culture centered on engineering excellence, operational reliability, mission success, safety, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications:

Required:

• BS in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of experience developing, architecting, or delivering software systems supporting spacecraft, aerospace, defense, robotics, or other mission-critical operational environments.
• 5+ years of…