Firefly Aerospace · 21 hours ago
Spacecraft Mission Operations Engineer III, Elytra
Cedar Park, TX
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
5+ years expFirefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company that enables our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. The Mission Operations Engineer III will support the Elytra orbital vehicle program by owning spacecraft operations, architecting ground systems, and leading mission execution for long-duration missions.
AerospaceAir TransportationSatellite Communication
No H1B
Security Clearance RequiredU.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Architect the operational ConOps for Elytra missions, owning the operational interpretation of spacecraft design
Own and approve Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and ground system architectures supporting long-duration and multi-role missions
Lead system-level validation and verification campaigns from early integration through sustained operations readiness
Define the operational standards for Elytra missions, including procedure structure, automation philosophy, and command authority models
Chair cross-functional Working Groups, resolving complex technical tradeoffs between spacecraft design and operational risk
Build and maintain the long-term roadmap for operations product development as the mission evolves
Set the strategy for internal operations software and tooling, ensuring scalability and reliability across years of operations
Architect the DITL and mission rehearsal campaign, defining training objectives appropriate for long-duration, anomaly-driven operations
Define requirements for simulator fidelity, integration, and validation; approve test plans and readiness criteria
Lead team training and certification, assessing readiness and maintaining high operational standards across mission phases
Serve in senior console or leadership roles during critical operations, anomalies, and maneuver campaigns
Provide authoritative direction to the operations team and mission leadership during high-impact events
Qualification
Required
5 to 12+ years of professional aerospace experience with a focus on spacecraft operations and mission lifecycle ownership
Proven leadership of major mission phases or long-duration spacecraft operations campaigns
Experience architecting ground systems, simulation campaigns, and operational frameworks from requirements to execution
Experience operating in CUI environments and designing workflows intended to scale into classified mission operations
Strong proficiency in automation and mission-data processing tools
Clear, decisive communicator who bridges engineering teams and leadership; capable of running large technical campaigns, mentoring engineers, and maintaining operational rigor across a multi-mission fleet
Preferred
Experience as a Flight Director, Lead Mission Controller, or equivalent role
Expertise in Ground Readiness Testing, DITL simulations, and sustained on-orbit operations governance
Active or previously held U.S. Government security clearance (Secret, TS, or TS/SCI)
Experience supporting classified or secure flight operations (DoD, NRO, or other national security missions)
Familiarity with cross-domain solutions (CDS) and managing operational workflows across classified and unclassified systems
Benefits
Generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles
Parental leave
Educational reimbursement
Short term disability
Flexible PTO options
Company
Firefly Aerospace
Firefly Aerospace is a space company that develops and operates launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles for commercial mission.
501-1000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$796.56MKey Investors
Northrop GrummanRPM VenturesAE Industrial Partners
2025-08-07IPO
2025-05-29Corporate Round· $50M
2024-11-12Series D· $175M
Leadership Team
Jason Kim
Chief Executive Officer
Eric Salwan
Co-Founder
Recent News
2026-01-19
Company data provided by crunchbase