Mission Operations Engineer III

Firefly Aerospace•Cedar Park, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Firefly Aerospace is seeking a Mission Operations Engineer III to join their team. This role involves owning the operational framework of the lander, from architecting the Ground System to developing Flight Operations Products. The engineer will bridge the gap between spacecraft subsystem teams and real-time execution, leading the mission from initial planning through testing and simulations. The position is based in north Austin, Texas.

Requirements

Bachelors Degree in Aerospace Engineering or related discipline
7 to 12+ years of professional aerospace experience with a focus on mission lifecycle.
Proven track record leading a major mission phase (e.g., Launch, Landing, or RPO) and/or managing a ground segment development campaign.
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.
Strong proficiency in software for automating ground system tasks and mission-data processing.
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.

Nice To Haves

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).

Responsibilities

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).
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.
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.
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.