Flight Software Manager, Blue Ghost

Firefly Aerospace•Cedar Park, TX

About The Position

As the Blue Ghost Flight Software Manager at Firefly Aerospace, you will lead the flight software team responsible for developing, integrating, verifying, and supporting mission-critical software for Firefly’s Blue Ghost lunar landers. In this role, you will manage a technical team delivering spacecraft flight software, driving software execution across requirements, design, implementation, test, mission integration, and flight operations support. This position combines hands-on technical judgment with people leadership. You will own team staffing, career development, performance management, execution planning, and technical process improvement while working closely with GNC, avionics, systems engineering, mission operations, program management, external partners, and customers. You will be responsible for building a high-performing software organization capable of delivering reliable flight software for lunar missions in a fast-paced aerospace environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or related technical field
10+ years of experience developing embedded, real-time, aerospace, spacecraft, launch vehicle, defense, robotics, or other mission-critical software
5+ years of technical team leadership experience including direct management of engineers and technical staff
Demonstrated experience delivering software for complex hardware systems through integration, verification, and operational use
Strong technical understanding of embedded software architecture, real-time systems, command and telemetry, fault management, device interfaces, and software/hardware integration
Experience establishing software engineering standards, development processes, test practices, and release discipline
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 schedules, priorities, budgets, resource planning, and workforce forecasting
Excellent communication skills with ability to convey complex technical concepts to executives, customers, and non-software stakeholders
Ability to foster a collaborative team culture while meeting demanding mission schedules

Nice To Haves

Experience with C or C++ in Linux, embedded Linux, RTOS, or bare-metal environments
Experience with JPL’s F-Prime software framework, or similar component-based flight software frameworks
Experience developing flight software for spacecraft, lunar landers, launch vehicles, satellites, or deep-space missions
Experience with NASA, JPL, or other government aerospace software development practices
Experience with spacecraft subsystems including avionics, GNC, propulsion, power, thermal, communications, and payload interfaces
Experience with fault detection, isolation, and recovery, autonomy, sequencing, command handling, telemetry, and spacecraft mode management
Experience with software verification for safety-critical or mission-critical systems, including unit testing, integration testing, hardware-in-the-loop testing, simulation, and test-as-you-fly campaigns
Experience with Python, CMake, GitLab CI, static analysis, code coverage, GoogleTest/GoogleMock, or similar software development tools
Experience supporting mission operations, anomaly investigations, or real-time engineering support during spacecraft flight
Experience developing strategic vision, technical roadmaps, and upgrade initiatives for flight software teams
Advanced degree in computer science, computer engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or related technical field

Responsibilities

Lead the Blue Ghost flight software team supporting lunar lander development, integration, test, and mission operations
Own all aspects of team staffing including recruitment, hiring, onboarding, workforce planning, and contractor support
Conduct performance evaluations and drive career development through mentorship and coaching of software engineers at all levels
Set flight software objectives and communicate priorities to team members, program leadership, and cross-functional stakeholders
Manage flight software execution across requirements, architecture, implementation, integration, verification, validation, release, and operational support
Drive adoption, extension, and mission-specific application of Firefly’s flight software framework, for Blue Ghost lander missions
Establish and improve flight software development processes, coding standards, review practices, test expectations, and release discipline
Coordinate with GNC, Embedded Software, avionics, electrical, systems engineering, simulation, mission operations, and test teams to deliver integrated spacecraft capabilities
Interface with program managers and mission stakeholders to allocate team responsibilities, establish schedules, and manage software deliverables
Support mission readiness reviews, test campaigns, rehearsals, anomaly investigations, and flight operations
Develop and manage team budget inputs, annual operating plans, resource forecasts, and software capability roadmaps
Identify technical gaps, execution risks, staffing needs, and investment priorities for Blue Ghost flight software
Foster a healthy team culture and maintain high morale in a demanding technical and operational environment