Manager, Electrical Engineering

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. A Senior Manager of Spacecraft Avionics at Firefly is responsible for leading the organization that delivers cutting-edge avionics design, development, and integration across all of Firefly’s spacecraft programs. In this role, you set the technical and operational direction for the spacecraft avionics teams supporting Firefly’s Blue Ghost lunar lander programs, the SUV program, and future spacecraft contracts. You own system-level architecture trades, drive consistent avionics strategies across vehicles, and oversee the end-to-end integration, test, and launch operations timeline. You build the processes, standards, and culture that enable the team to execute with speed, rigor, and technical excellence. Responsibilities Lead and grow the spacecraft avionics engineering organization across multiple concurrent programs. Set technical strategy and ensure consistent avionics architectures, technologies, and approaches across all spacecraft vehicles. Guide high-level functional design, system trades, and development of avionics systems for current and future spacecraft. Own the integration, test, and launch operations timeline and logistics for spacecraft avionics, coordinating across programs to deconflict priorities and protect critical milestones. Develop and enforce procedures, processes, and guidelines that maximize team efficiency and technical quality, including standards for the Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) facility and other hardware assets. Mentor, coach, and develop direct reports (including other leads and senior engineers); manage performance, career growth, and training plans. Partner closely with peer managers and cross-functional leaders (systems, propulsion, software, mission operations, etc.) to ensure clear, rapid communication and aligned execution. Represent spacecraft avionics in program-level and company-level reviews, advocating for technical decisions, risk mitigations, and resource needs. Drive continuous improvement in design processes, verification approaches, and team operating rhythms. Qualifications Required Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent. 8+ years of experience in aerospace component development, avionics systems, testing, integration, or operations. 4+ years of experience leading engineering teams, with demonstrated success managing people, technical scope, schedules, and cross-functional interfaces. Proven ability to drive system-level technical decisions and resolve competing priorities across multiple programs. Strong leadership presence with excellent verbal and written communication skills. Organized, decisive, and capable of operating effectively in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment. Preferred 5+ years managing or mentoring engineers in a technical leadership role. Deep experience with aerospace avionics system design, development, verification, or operations (spacecraft experience strongly preferred). Hands-on electrical engineering background, including test equipment (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, etc.), schematic interpretation, and hardware debugging. Software experience (C, C++, Python) and/or RF engineering experience. Master’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline. Experience with HIL testing, spacecraft integration campaigns, or launch operations. 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.