Flight Dynamics Manager

Firefly Aerospace•Cedar Park, TX

About The Position

As the Flight Dynamics Manager at Firefly Aerospace, you will lead a technical team supporting mission design, orbit determination, and maneuver planning for operational spacecraft across LEO and cislunar space. In this role, you will own all aspects of team leadership including recruitment, career development, and performance management while driving strategic planning, budget management, and operational execution. This position combines technical expertise in spacecraft flight dynamics with people leadership, requiring you to build team capabilities, foster a high-performing culture, and deliver mission-critical support in a fast-paced aerospace environment.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field
10+ years of experience in spacecraft flight dynamics with demonstrated expertise across mission design, orbit determination, and maneuver planning
5+ years of technical team leadership experience including direct management of engineers and technical staff
Demonstrated experience supporting operational spacecraft missions through multiple mission phases
Proven ability to recruit, hire, develop, and retain high-performing technical talent
Demonstrated success building team capabilities through mentorship, training, and career development
Experience managing team budgets, resource planning, and workforce forecasting
Experience establishing technical standards, processes, and best practices for flight dynamics organizations
Excellent communication skills with ability to convey complex technical concepts to executives, customers, and non-technical stakeholders
Ability to foster a collaborative team culture while meeting demanding mission schedules

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (master's or PhD) in aerospace engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field
Knowledge of spacecraft subsystems and their impact on trajectory design and orbit determination
Experience with Python and Linux
Proficiency with one or more commercial flight dynamics software tools (STK, FreeFlyer, GMAT, ODTK, or similar)
Experience developing strategic vision, technical roadmaps, and upgrade initiatives for flight dynamics teams
Experience leading or supporting anomaly investigations and resolving critical mission issues

Responsibilities

Lead a flight dynamics team supporting multiple spacecraft programs and development efforts
Own all aspects of team staffing including recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and workforce planning
Conduct performance evaluations and drive career development through mentorship and coaching of engineers at all levels
Set flight dynamics objectives and communicate priorities to team members and cross-functional stakeholders
Develop and manage the flight dynamics budget and annual operating plan
Direct daily operations of the team ensuring timely delivery of mission-critical software development, analysis, and operational support
Interface with program managers and mission stakeholders to allocate team responsibilities and establish execution schedules
Drive flight dynamics strategy and roadmap development, identifying capability gaps and investment priorities
Champion continuous improvement initiatives for flight dynamics processes, tools, and operational efficiency
Foster a healthy team culture and maintain high morale in a demanding technical and operational environment