Instrumentation & Controls Manager Engineering GSE

Firefly Aerospace•Briggs, TX

About The Position

Firefly Aerospace is seeking an Instrumentation & Controls Manager to lead engineering for ground support equipment (GSE) used with launch vehicles and spacecraft. The manager will lead and develop a team of up to 10 engineers, set goals and project milestones, allocate resources, and foster a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement. The role oversees the design, development, testing, and deployment of GSE control and instrumentation systems, including functional test systems and automated test equipment, data acquisition and signal conditioning, control and junction panels, vehicle umbilical and quick-disconnect systems, and sensor integration. The manager reviews and approves instrumentation and control drawings, helps diagnose electrical issues, supports test execution and troubleshooting, analyzes test data, and ensures compliance with aerospace quality, safety, and local regulatory requirements. The position also coordinates with interdisciplinary teams on project requirements and complex construction projects such as test stands, launch sites, and vehicle transport systems; manages scope and capital budgets for Ground Support projects; and balances technical rigor with program urgency. Applicants must meet applicable U.S. Government export-control eligibility requirements for space technology.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
At least 5 years of experience in integration and/or testing of process control systems, spacecraft test equipment, or launch systems.
At least 2 years of direct management or team leadership experience.
Strong electrical fundamentals and hands-on experience using DMMs, power supplies, oscilloscopes, and small ADC/DAC circuits.
Working knowledge of common electrical sensors, including thermocouples, RTDs, strain gauges, pressure transducers, encoders, and load cells.
Excellent communication, planning, and organizational skills.
Demonstrated ability and desire to work with interdisciplinary teams.
Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations for compliance with U.S. space technology export regulations, including ITAR.

Nice To Haves

Spacecraft or launch vehicle test and validation experience.
Experience with launch site operations and GSE deployment.
Experience programming PLCs or FPGAs.
Experience programming and implementing HMIs.
Proficiency with motion controllers, signal conditioners, or data acquisition systems such as National Instruments.
Ability to write and simulate automated testing scripts in LabVIEW, Python, or similar tools.
Familiarity with MIL-STD specifications and aerospace quality standards such as AS9100 and NASA standards.
A balanced sense of urgency and risk-management style for handling interdisciplinary conflicts.
Experience managing vendor relationships and external contractors.

Responsibilities

Lead and mentor a team of up to 10 engineers designing, implementing, and troubleshooting instrumentation and control systems for launch vehicle and spacecraft ground systems.
Recruit, develop, and retain engineering talent; set goals, provide feedback, conduct performance reviews, and support employee development.
Build a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Define and manage project scope, milestones, handoffs, and resource allocation forecasts.
Oversee design, development, testing, and deployment of GSE control and instrumentation systems, including functional test systems, ATE, data acquisition systems, signal conditioning, control panels, junction panels, vehicle umbilical and quick-disconnect systems, and development sensor integration.
Review and approve instrumentation and control drawing packages, including control and I/O diagrams, cable schedules, instrument loop diagrams, and junction box and control panel wiring diagrams.
Diagnose and resolve complex electrical problems in Integration, Test, and Launch systems.
Support test execution and troubleshooting and validate functional testing configurations.
Review and analyze test data to ensure quality and accuracy.
Ensure compliance with aerospace quality standards, safety requirements, and local regulations.
Coordinate interdisciplinary teams on project requirements and complex construction projects, manage scope creep, and balance technical rigor with program urgency.
Manage capital budgets for Ground Support projects.