Technical Project Manager II-GSE

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. Job Summary This is where the future of space infrastructure is built—and you'll be leading the charge. Firefly Aerospace is seeking an exceptional Technical Program Manager to own the execution of our most ambitious capital projects: the test stands, launch sites, and test fixtures that enable our rockets to reach orbit and our spacecraft to land on the Moon. These aren't just construction projects – these projects carry the ambition of Firefly and the United States’ ambitions in space exploration. You’ll be leading a group of engineers from concept to commissioning, racing to complete novel hardware solutions that bring the future to life. Imagine standing on a greenfield site in Texas, knowing that in 12 months, this ground will house a state-of-the-art test stand developing and qualifying the next generation of spaceflight hardware. Or you could be leading execution of the next generation launch site, upgrading it to support rapid-turnaround operations that enable 24-hour notice launches. That's the scale and impact that you'll own. In this role, you'll be both technical arbiter and project leader. When mechanical, electrical, and fluids engineers disagree on the best approach, you'll have the technical depth to evaluate the options and make the call. When a $10M project faces scope creep or schedule pressure, you'll have the PM discipline to hold the line. When an interdisciplinary team needs direction and motivation, you'll provide the leadership that keeps everyone aligned and moving forward. You'll manage multi-million dollar capital programs across greenfield and brownfield sites—building brand new test infrastructure from the ground up and modernizing existing facilities to meet tomorrow's demands. This isn't program management from behind a desk. You'll be on-site during critical milestones, working alongside engineers and construction teams. You'll review and challenge technical requirements, review and approve P&IDs, proposed operations, and electrical schematics. You'll evaluate structural calculations and make technical trade-offs to get the job done. And when your test stand fires for the first time or your launch site supports its first mission, you'll know that your technical leadership and relentless execution made it happen. If you're a technical leader who thrives on complex challenges, loves building large-scale infrastructure, and wants to see your projects directly enable humanity's expansion into space, this is your opportunity. Key Responsibilities Technical Leadership & Engineering Management: Serve as the technical arbiter for resolving engineering differences and design conflicts during project design cycles across mechanical, electrical, fluids, structures, and controls disciplines Lead interdisciplinary engineering teams (3-10 engineers) through technical analysis and trade evaluation Evaluate competing design approaches using engineering judgment, analysis, and cost-benefit trade studies Review and approve technical deliverables including calculations, drawings, models, and specifications Ensure design decisions align with project requirements, safety standards, and operational objectives Work with technical teams to challenge, define, and manage technical requirements for project execution Drive technical reviews including preliminary design reviews (PDR), critical design reviews (CDR), and operational readiness reviews (ORR) Challenge engineering assumptions and push teams toward optimal solutions that balance performance, cost, and schedule Capital Project Management: Own end-to-end execution of major capital projects ($1M - $20M+) for test fixtures, test stands, and launch sites across multiple launch vehicle and spacecraft programs Manage greenfield (new construction) and brownfield (upgrades/modifications) infrastructure projects, with a primary focus on driving schedule & using best engineering judgement to improve the team’s speed-to-the-ball Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans including scope, schedule, budget, and resource allocation Control project scope rigorously, managing change requests and preventing scope creep Track project budgets and manage a continuous spend forecast, reporting and escalating variances/overages in schedule or budget with leadership Develop and manage project schedules focusing on critical path management and resource loading. Work with the appropriate Engineering and Fabrication managers to secure and justify the resources required to achieve the objective Coordinate with procurement, construction contractors, vendors, and internal stakeholders Manage project risks, issues, and dependencies with proactive mitigation strategies Ensure projects are completed on time, within budget, and meeting all technical requirements and quality standards Ensure test stands, launch sites, and other capital projects meets Firefly standards and requirements for high-pressure fluids, cryogenic propellants, high vibration systems, and measurement accuracy Coordinate integration of instrumentation and control systems, data acquisition systems, and safety systems Support operational transition from construction to active test operations Stakeholder Management & Communication: Communicate project status to executive leadership, including progress, risks, issues, and budget performance Present technical briefings and executive summaries to stakeholders at all levels Manage expectations and negotiate competing priorities across multiple programs Facilitate communication between engineering, operations, construction, and business teams Ensure alignment of project deliverables with business objectives and customer needs Build and maintain relationships with external contractors, vendors, and regulatory agencies as required Process & Documentation: Develop and maintain project documentation including project plans, technical specifications, status reports, risk registers, and meeting minutes Manage project changes through formal change control processes with stakeholder communication Ensure compliance with engineering standards, safety regulations, building codes, and aerospace industry best practices Implement project management best practices and continuous improvement initiatives Maintain as-built documentation and lessons learned for future projects Support development of cost estimating databases and schedule templates for future capital projects Team Leadership: Provide leadership, guidance, and mentorship to project team Drive accountability and execution across cross-functional teams Foster collaborative problem-solving and innovation Build high-performing teams that deliver exceptional results under challenging conditions Identify and develop talent within project teams Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, or related technical field Minimum 3-5 years of experience managing complex technical projects, with proven track record of delivering capital infrastructure projects on time and within budget Strong technical foundation with ability to understand and evaluate engineering analyses, drawings, and specifications across multiple disciplines Demonstrated ability to resolve technical conflicts and make engineering trade-off decisions Experience managing multi-million dollar budgets and complex project schedules Strong project management skills including planning, execution, risk management, and delivery Experience managing cross-functional teams of 10+ people across engineering, construction, and operations Excellent communication skills with ability to present technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to make decisions Proficiency with project management tools (MS Project, Primavera P6, or similar) Experience with CAD software and ability to read engineering drawings (P&IDs, electrical schematics, structural drawings) Knowledge of project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid approaches) Understanding of construction management principles and contractor coordination Ability to work in fast-paced, dynamic environment with competing priorities Flexibility to travel (up to 30%) to project sites and support critical milestones including extended hours U.S. Person status required (U.S. Citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident, Refugee, or Asylee) due to ITAR/EAR requirements Preferred Qualifications Master's degree in Engineering, MBA, or Master's in Engineering Management Certification in project management (PMP, PgMP, Scrum Master, or equivalent) 10+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, energy, or petrochemical industries Direct experience with rocket engine test stands, launch pad construction, or propulsion test facilities Knowledge of cryogenic fluid systems, high-pressure gas systems, and propellant handling Understanding of rocket engine operations, test procedures, and safety systems Experience with Design-Build or EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) project delivery methods Familiarity with NASA standards (NASA-STD-5005), AFSPC launch site standards, or similar aerospace infrastructure requirements Knowledge of systems engineering processes and tools (requirements management, V&V, configuration management) Experience with thermal modeling, CFD analysis, or structural FEA for test stand environments Understanding of ASME pressure vessel codes, NFPA codes, and building codes relevant to test infrastructure Experience managing projects through permitting, environmental review, and regulatory approval processes Proficiency with Earned Value Management (EVM) principles and cost/schedule integration Experience with P6 Primavera, Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, or similar scheduling tools Familiarity with Odoo ERP or similar enterprise systems Knowledge of AS9100 or ISO 9001 quality management systems Lean or Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt) Experience with fast-track construction schedules and compressed project timelines Previous experience supporting launch operations or test campaigns 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.