Director, Marketing & Communications

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. SUMMARY Firefly has an exciting opportunity to lead our external marketing and communications efforts as Director of Marketing & Communications. Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer, this position will lead and execute strategic marketing campaigns supporting missions, corporate communications, and media relations initiatives that amplify Firefly's vision, milestones, and technology roadmap. The ideal candidate is a highly organized, hands-on leader with deep aerospace industry experience, public company communications expertise, and a proven track record of developing high-performing teams. Thriving in a lean, fast-paced environment, they are equally comfortable leading people and projects while personally developing compelling press releases, executive messaging, presentations, and marketing materials. They bring exceptional writing skills, attention to detail, sound judgment, and a sense of urgency to deliver high-quality results while collaborating effectively with executives, customers, and partners. RESPONSIBILITIES Oversee, lead, mentor, and develop professional marketing, graphics, and communication team members. Serve as the CMO's primary operational leader, translating strategic priorities into actionable plans, managing execution across the department, and ensuring alignment with business objectives Establish and maintain strong organizational processes, project management systems, workflows, and accountability measures to ensure the team consistently meets deadlines and delivers high-quality work. Lead Firefly's external communications, including corporate announcements, media relations, media interviews, and messaging development. Collaborate with Firefly's finance and investor relations teams to support investor materials and messaging for quarterly earnings. Develop marketing campaign planning for new products, major milestones, and launch and spacecraft missions. Oversee all marketing and communications assets, including press releases, the website, brochures, infographics, and marketing decks, social media and keep branding and messaging consistent with Firefly's brand guidelines and standards. Coordinate with customers' and partners' communications teams to ensure alignment around announcements and mission milestones. Oversee all external speaking engagements, including advising on strategic opportunities and making sure spokespeople are prepared with key talking points. Oversee strategy for Firefly award nominations to build industry recognition for the company, its programs, and its people. Lead reporting on key media and marketing metrics, providing insights and recommendations to the CMO and senior leadership. Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, collaboration, attention to detail, and operational excellence across the department. Manage external agencies and contractors for surge support during missions, major announcements, and other high-demand periods. Stay on top of budgets, timelines, and deadlines to meet Firefly's marketing and communications priorities. Demonstrate measurable business impact based on the goals outlined for marketing and communications initiatives. QUALIFICATIONS Required Bachelor's degree required in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Business Administration, or a closely related field. Master's degree or MBA preferred. 12 to 15+ years of progressive experience in marketing, corporate communications, or public relations, including significant aerospace industry experience. Direct experience working at a publicly traded company, including corporate communications, investor relations support, quarterly earnings, and executive-level communications. 8+ years of direct people leadership experience, with demonstrated success managing multidisciplinary teams, developing talent, driving accountability, and overseeing departmental operations. Exceptional organizational, operational, and project management skills, with a proven ability to manage multiple high-priority initiatives, competing deadlines, and complex workflows. Demonstrated ability to independently lead departmental execution, establish efficient processes, prioritize resources, and deliver results with minimal executive oversight. Proven track record of developing and executing integrated marketing and communications strategies and campaigns around launch and/or spacecraft missions. Extensive media relations experience, including established relationships with top-tier aerospace, defense, technology, and business media. Experience advising and preparing senior executives for media interviews, speaking engagements, crisis situations, and high-visibility announcements. Proven crisis communication preparation and response experience. Strong understanding of aerospace and defense programs, mission operations, industry stakeholders, and the communications demand of a fast-paced, highly technical environment. Exceptional writing, editing, storytelling, and verbal communication skills, with meticulous attention to detail. Strong financial acumen and experience managing departmental budgets, external agencies, contractors, and vendors. Proactive, solutions-oriented leadership style with strong executive presence, sound judgment, and the ability to anticipate challenges and make decisions under pressure. Ability to travel up to 30% of the time. 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.