Mission Operations Engineer III

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

Join the team that just landed on the Moon. Firefly Aerospace is seeking a Mission Operations Engineer III. We are scaling our operations for complex, multi-manifested missions to locations like the Lunar Far Side and South Pole.

In this role, you aren’t just a flight controller; you are contributing to the entire operations ecosystem. You will own the operational framework of the lander ranging from architecting the Ground System to developing the Flight Operations Products (procedures, scripts, and processes) that make lunar landing possible. You will bridge the gap between spacecraft subsystem teams and real-time execution, leading the mission from the initial mission planning process through Mission Scenario Testing and Mission Simulations. If you want to own the mission from concept to console, this is your seat.

Ground Segment Domain

• Own the end-to-end ground segment architecture and enterprise requirements (L0–L3), leading design trades and cross-team coordination for all Mission Operations Center capabilities and mission readiness.

• Define the scope and requirements for mission-specific ground segment specifications, spanning civil, national security, customer-specific, security, and data domains.

• Direct verification and validation campaigns from Site Acceptance Testing through Mission Scenario Testing, owning closure of internal and program requirements.

• Own configuration control of the ground segment, the key management plan, and access management for all operators, including customers and mission partners.

• Direct tasking and coordination across all contributing organizations (ground service providers, IT, cyber, flight dynamics, ground software, facilities, external customers).

Flight Operations Products Domain

• Define the operational standards and frameworks across mission scenarios and vehicles, including procedure structure, automation philosophy, command authority models, and configuration management practices.

• Deliver the Mission Operations Plan and own mission planning across pre- and post-launch phases.

• Capture and disposition flight rules and the management of hazardous commands across the fleet.

• Coordinate and manage of on-board command sequences and FDIR through the development cycle, partnering with systems engineering, to meet system requirements.

• Lead cross-functional Working Groups, resolving complex technical conflicts and tradeoffs between spacecraft design and operational risk, and own the long-term roadmap for operations product development as missions evolve.

Simulations and Training Domain

• Own the enterprise Mission Simulations Plan and the Training Plan, architecting the campaign of “Day-in-the-Life” (DITL) simulations and mission rehearsals across all mission phases.

• Define requirements for ground simulator fidelity, integration, and validation; write and approve test plans and readiness criteria.

• Direct cross-team coordination of simulation stakeholders and assets, including hardware-in-the-loop testbeds.

• Lead the training and certification process for the Mission Operations and Flight Operations teams, assessing readiness and ensuring proficiency in nominal and off-nominal execution.

Mission Execution Console Operations

• Maintain the operational discipline and command authority required to staff critical console roles, where you will be expected to execute the mission plan, manage high-pressure anomalies, and lead the team through long-duration shifts and rehearsals.

Required

• Bachelors Degree in Aerospace Engineering or related discipline

• Experience: 7 to 12+ years of professional aerospace experience with a focus on mission lifecycle.

• Mission Record: Proven track record leading a major mission phase (e.g., Launch, Landing, or RPO) and/or managing a ground segment development campaign.

• Technical Experience: Experience architecting frameworks for ground systems, script validation protocols, or full-scale simulation campaigns. Ability to define operational frameworks from high-level requirements to actionable, executed plans.

• Software Experience: Strong proficiency in software for automating ground system tasks and mission-data processing.

• Soft Skills: Highly effective communicator who bridges technical teams and executive stakeholders. Resolves complex technical debates and makes high-value decisions with minimal supervision. Runs major work campaigns while still executing technical work and clearly communicates resource needs with well-defined goals and tasking. Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers, lead by example regardless of title, and maintain high operational standards and team sustainability across a multi-mission fleet.

Desired

• Experience as a Flight Director, Lead Mission Controller, or equivalent role.

• Expertise in pre-launch system verification, Day-in-the-Life (DITL) testing, Mission Scenario Tests (MST), and sustained on-orbit operations governance.

• Experience operating in CUI environments or designing workflows intended to scale into classified mission operations.

• Active or previously held U.S. Government security clearance (Secret, TS, or TS/SCI).