Firefly Aerospace · 18 hours ago
Spacecraft Mission Operations Engineer III, Blue Ghost
Cedar Park, TX
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
7+ years expFirefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company that enables our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. They are seeking a Mission Operations Engineer III for the Blue Ghost program to manage the operational framework of the lander, bridging the gap between spacecraft subsystem teams and real-time execution.
AerospaceAir TransportationSatellite Communication
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Architect the technical foundation of the mission, defining the Concept of Operations (ConOps) and owning Interface Control Documents (ICDs)
Lead the implementation of the entire ground segment infrastructure, towards final approval for Mission Control Center readiness and data distribution architectures
Direct rigorous system validation and verification campaigns, defining the criteria for Site Acceptance Testing to Mission Scenario Testing
Define the operational framework various mission scenarios and vehicles, setting the standards for procedure development, automation scripts, and flight workflows
Chair cross-functional Working Groups, resolving complex technical conflicts between subsystem teams to finalize the operational baseline
Architect mission operations plans and the roadmap for ops products development
Drive the development strategy for software tools, ensuring a seamless and risk-free transition from system design to live operations
Architect parts of the campaign of "Day-in-the-Life" (DITL) simulations and mission rehearsals, defining the training objectives for high-stakes lunar maneuvers
Collaborate with technical teams to define the requirements for ground simulator integration and validation, write the test plans, and execute them
Lead the team training process, assessing readiness and managing the training activities to ensure proficiency in nominal and off-nominal execution
Maintain the operational discipline and command authority required to staff critical console roles, where you will be expected to execute the mission plan, manage high-pressure anomalies, and lead the team through long-duration shifts and rehearsals
Qualification
Required
7+ years of professional aerospace experience with a focus on mission lifecycle
Proven track record leading a major mission phase (e.g., Launch, Landing, or RPO) and/or managing a ground segment development campaign
Experience architecting frameworks for ground systems, script validation protocols, or full-scale simulation campaigns. Ability to define high-level requirements and translate them into actionable plans
Proficient in software for automating ground system tasks and mission-data processing
Highly effective communicator that bridges the gap between technical teams and executive stakeholders. Resolves complex technical debates and make high-value decisions with minimal supervision. Able to run major work campaigns, and executes technical work. Effectively communicates when additional resources are needed by providing clearly defined goals and tasking. Demonstrated ability to mentor junior engineers and maintain high operational standards across a multi-mission fleet
Preferred
Experience as a Flight Director or Lead Mission Controller
Expertise in pre-launch system verification, Day-in-the-Life (DITL) testing, and Ground Readiness Tests (GRT)
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