Flight Dynamics Manager

Job description

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE 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. SUMMARY As the Flight Dynamics Manager at Firefly Aerospace, you will lead a technical team supporting mission design, orbit determination, and maneuver planning for operational spacecraft across LEO and cislunar space. In this role, you will own all aspects of team leadership including recruitment, career development, and performance management while driving strategic planning, budget management, and operational execution. This position combines technical expertise in spacecraft flight dynamics with people leadership, requiring you to build team capabilities, foster a high-performing culture, and deliver mission-critical support in a fast-paced aerospace environment. RESPONSIBILITIES Lead a flight dynamics team supporting multiple spacecraft programs and development efforts Own all aspects of team staffing including recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and workforce planning Conduct performance evaluations and drive career development through mentorship and coaching of engineers at all levels Set flight dynamics objectives and communicate priorities to team members and cross-functional stakeholders Develop and manage the flight dynamics budget and annual operating plan Direct daily operations of the team ensuring timely delivery of mission-critical software development, analysis, and operational support Interface with program managers and mission stakeholders to allocate team responsibilities and establish execution schedules Drive flight dynamics strategy and roadmap development, identifying capability gaps and investment priorities Champion continuous improvement initiatives for flight dynamics processes, tools, and operational efficiency Foster a healthy team culture and maintain high morale in a demanding technical and operational environment QUALIFICATIONS Required Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field 10+ years of experience in spacecraft flight dynamics with demonstrated expertise across mission design, orbit determination, and maneuver planning 5+ years of technical team leadership experience including direct management of engineers and technical staff Demonstrated experience supporting operational spacecraft missions through multiple mission phases Proven ability to recruit, hire, develop, and retain high-performing technical talent Demonstrated success building team capabilities through mentorship, training, and career development Experience managing team budgets, resource planning, and workforce forecasting Experience establishing technical standards, processes, and best practices for flight dynamics organizations Excellent communication skills with ability to convey complex technical concepts to executives, customers, and non-technical stakeholders Ability to foster a collaborative team culture while meeting demanding mission schedules Desired Advanced degree (master's or PhD) in aerospace engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field Knowledge of spacecraft subsystems and their impact on trajectory design and orbit determination Experience with Python and Linux Proficiency with one or more commercial flight dynamics software tools (STK, FreeFlyer, GMAT, ODTK, or similar) Experience developing strategic vision, technical roadmaps, and upgrade initiatives for flight dynamics teams Experience leading or supporting anomaly investigations and resolving critical mission issues Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, educational reimbursement, short term disability, and flexible PTO options. To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Firefly Aerospace, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Firefly is governed based on merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status