Senior Manager-Inventory Control

Job description

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE 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. 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. Firefly is bringing warehousing, material movement, and logistics together into one Warehouse & Inventory organization. The Sr. Manager – Warehouse & Inventory will build and lead it. This leader is responsible for unifying the team under one strategy, operating model, set of processes, and set of metrics. They will own the full flow of material, from receipt through storage, line-side delivery, and shipment to launch sites and customers in the U.S. and abroad. The role sets strategy and is accountable for all Firefly inventory. That covers the Main Manufacturing Warehouse, line-side point-of-use cells, and satellite and launch warehouses. The role also owns warehouse expansion strategy, the budget, inventory accuracy, controlled property (quarantine, government furnished equipment (GFE), and customer furnished equipment (CFE)), trade-compliant logistics, and visibility into logistics costs, including expedite fees tracked by program. The Sr. Manager works closely with Procurement, Programs, Quality, Engineering, Production, Launch, Finance, and Trade Compliance. Responsibilities Lead the consolidation of warehousing, material movement, and logistics into one Warehouse & Inventory pillar. Set a shared vision, operating model, organizational structure, and KPIs so material is managed end to end instead of handed off between teams. Own all Firefly inventory locations as one network: the Main Manufacturing Warehouse (footprint optimization, cleanrooms, ESD limits) Launch Warehouse Locations (mission-critical staging, remote tracking, high-velocity distribution) Line-Side Inventory (Kanban, kitting, point-of-use replenishment) local and satellite warehouses, including Receiving, Materials Management, Picking, and Transfers Lead and develop a multi-shift team of managers, supervisors, material handlers, and logistics staff. Define roles and responsibilities, cross-train across the pillar, and build a bench of talent ready to support Firefly's growing launch rate. Make safety a core part of the culture, including OSHA compliance, crane and forklift operations, HAZMAT management, and aerospace compliance. Make sure equipment training, certifications, and safety observations are done and kept current according to HSE requirements. Develop the multi-year warehouse and logistics expansion strategy for domestic and international sites, including capacity modeling, layout and flow design, material handling equipment, and decisions to build, lease, or use a third-party logistics provider (3PL). Standardize receiving, put-away, storage, kitting, picking, transfers, and shipping across all sites. Create and maintain warehouse SOPs and standard work, and make sure training is completed and documented. Control every component tightly through serialization, batch/lot tracking, shelf-life and out-time limits (e.g., epoxies, composites, sealants), and strict ITAR access control. Maintain all material according to AS9100 processes, with full traceability. Run continuous cycle counting and periodic physical inventories to keep inventory accurate and prevent production shutdowns. Find root causes of variances and correct them, and apply sound inventory practices (ABC classification, min/max, safety stock, review of slow-moving and obsolete stock) with Procurement and Planning. Design and own the controls for quarantined and nonconforming material: clear tagging, separate and secured MRB areas, and prevention of unauthorized use. Partner with Quality to carry out MRB dispositions both physically and in the system. Set up and own the program for logging, tagging, safeguarding, inventorying, and reporting GFE and CFE. Lead warehouse support for government and customer property audits (e.g., FAR 52.245-1 and applicable DFARS requirements). Own transportation and logistics between U.S. and international warehouses, production sites, and launch sites (Vandenberg, Wallops, Cape Canaveral, and future sites). This includes carrier and freight forwarder strategy, oversize and high-value flight hardware moves, hazmat and ordnance shipments, and launch campaign logistics plans. Make sure all domestic and international shipments meet ITAR, EAR, and customs requirements. Work with Firefly's Compliance Manager and freight forwarders on export classification, shipping documentation, Electronic Export Information (EEI) filing, license drawdowns, and restricted party screening. Own the physical and system side of order-to-cash: customer deliverables, shipments, acceptance documentation (e.g., DD250/WAWF where applicable), and returns. Partner with Programs, Procurement, and Finance so invoicing and revenue recognition are accurate. Manage the Warehouse & Inventory operating and capital budget and lead the pillar's input to the annual budget process. Build and own a system to track expedite fees and premium freight by program, report them to program leadership and Finance, and work to find and fix the causes. Support system and data integrity in the ERP (Odoo). Push for barcoding, RFID, and other automation where the return justifies it. Build a culture of continuous improvement, with one set of KPIs for the whole pillar, such as inventory accuracy, dock-to-stock time, on-time delivery, line-side fill rate, freight and expedite cost per program, quarantine aging, and safety. Partner with Procurement, Programs, Quality, Engineering, Production, and Launch to support Firefly's missions at the highest level of safety and quality. Follow positive employee relations practices. Select and recommend candidates for hire, promotion, recognition, disciplinary action, and termination, and keep appropriate documentation. Qualifications Required Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, Aerospace Operations, or a closely related business or technical field. At least 10 years of experience in materials management, warehouse management, supply chain management, or a similar role. This must include 8+ years of progressive leadership in warehouse operations and inventory management in aerospace, defense, or commercial space launch. Proven experience bringing multiple functions or sites together into one organization with shared processes, metrics, and culture. Proven experience managing a spread-out inventory network that includes central manufacturing hubs, remote field or launch sites, and fast-paced line-side or point-of-use (POU) replenishment cells. Direct experience building, training, and managing a multi-shift team of warehouse managers, material control specialists, and logistics personnel under strict safety guidelines. Strong knowledge of transportation, warehousing, trade compliance, order-to-cash processes, and inventory management principles, plus a deep understanding of logistics and order management best practices. Experience setting up or managing quarantine/nonconforming material controls and GFE/CFE programs. Hands-on experience managing age-sensitive materials (e.g., composites, epoxies, sealants), including storage temperature monitoring, out-time tracking, and cleanroom limits. Proven experience owning budgets and building cost-tracking and reporting. Skilled with ERP and Warehouse Management Systems, and with MS Office (Excel, Word, Outlook). Knowledge of industry standards, regulations, and best practices (e.g., AS9100, OSHA, ITAR/EAR, DOT/HAZMAT). Able to work across functions and manage multiple projects at once, with strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. Able to travel as required, including to domestic and international launch sites. Desired APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM or CSCP) and/or a Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt. Knowledge of Odoo ERP/MRP. ITAR experience, including domestic and international controlled shipments. Familiarity with FAR 52.245-1 government property requirements and DCMA property audits. Experience in an R&D-focused, prototyping, or test environment. Experience leading warehouse expansion or new-facility projects. Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, relocation benefits, 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.