Senior Manager-Inventory Control

Firefly Aerospace•Briggs, TX

About The Position

Firefly Aerospace is combining warehousing, material movement, and logistics into a single Warehouse & Inventory organization. The Senior Manager will build and lead this organization, unifying it under one strategy, operating model, processes, and metrics. The role owns the end-to-end flow of materials—from receipt and storage through line-side delivery and shipment to launch sites and customers in the U.S. and abroad—and is accountable for Firefly inventory across its manufacturing, line-side, satellite, and launch warehouse locations. The position sets warehouse and logistics strategy and owns inventory accuracy, warehouse expansion planning, controlled property, trade-compliant logistics, operating and capital budgets, and visibility into logistics costs such as program-level expedite fees. It leads a multi-shift organization and works closely with Procurement, Programs, Quality, Engineering, Production, Launch, Finance, and Trade Compliance to support Firefly missions safely and effectively. The role requires at least a bachelor's degree in a related field and 10 years of relevant experience, including at least eight years of progressive warehouse and inventory leadership in aerospace, defense, or commercial space launch. Travel to domestic and international launch sites is required as needed. To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, candidates must meet the stated U.S. citizenship, residency, protected-individual, or authorization eligibility criteria.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, Aerospace Operations, or a closely related business or technical field.
At least 10 years of experience in materials management, warehouse management, supply chain management, or a similar role, including at least 8 years of progressive leadership in warehouse operations and inventory management in aerospace, defense, or commercial space launch.
Proven experience integrating multiple functions or sites into one organization with shared processes, metrics, and culture.
Proven experience managing a distributed inventory network that includes central manufacturing hubs, remote field or launch sites, and fast-paced line-side or point-of-use replenishment cells.
Direct experience building, training, and managing a multi-shift team of warehouse managers, material control specialists, and logistics personnel under strict safety guidelines.
Strong knowledge of transportation, warehousing, trade compliance, order-to-cash processes, inventory management principles, logistics, and order management best practices.
Experience establishing or managing quarantine/nonconforming material controls and GFE/CFE programs.
Hands-on experience managing age-sensitive materials, including storage temperature monitoring, out-time tracking, and cleanroom limits.
Proven experience owning budgets and building cost-tracking and reporting processes.
Skill with ERP and Warehouse Management Systems and Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
Knowledge of relevant standards, regulations, and best practices, including AS9100, OSHA, ITAR/EAR, and DOT/HAZMAT.
Ability to work across functions, manage multiple projects, and apply strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
Ability to travel as required, including to domestic and international launch sites.
Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State, to conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations.

Nice To Haves

APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM or CSCP) and/or Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt.
Knowledge of Odoo ERP/MRP.
ITAR experience, including domestic and international controlled shipments.
Familiarity with FAR 52.245-1 government property requirements and DCMA property audits.
Experience in an R&D-focused, prototyping, or test environment.
Experience leading warehouse expansion or new-facility projects.

Responsibilities

Consolidate warehousing, material movement, and logistics into one Warehouse & Inventory organization, establishing a shared vision, operating model, organizational structure, and KPIs.
Own the inventory network across the Main Manufacturing Warehouse, launch warehouses, line-side inventory, and local and satellite warehouses, including receiving, materials management, picking, and transfers.
Lead, develop, cross-train, and establish roles and responsibilities for a multi-shift team of managers, supervisors, material handlers, and logistics staff.
Make safety central to the organization, ensuring OSHA compliance and current equipment training, certifications, and safety observations for crane and forklift operations, HAZMAT management, and aerospace compliance.
Develop multi-year domestic and international warehouse and logistics expansion strategy, including capacity modeling, layout and flow design, material handling equipment, and build-versus-lease-versus-3PL decisions.
Standardize receiving, put-away, storage, kitting, picking, transfers, and shipping; create and maintain warehouse SOPs and standard work, and ensure training is completed and documented.
Control components through serialization, batch and lot tracking, shelf-life and out-time controls, ITAR access controls, and AS9100-compliant traceability.
Run cycle counts and physical inventories, investigate and correct variances, and apply inventory practices such as ABC classification, min/max levels, safety stock, and slow-moving and obsolete stock reviews with Procurement and Planning.
Establish controls for quarantined and nonconforming material, including tagging, secured MRB areas, prevention of unauthorized use, and coordination with Quality on MRB dispositions in physical locations and systems.
Establish and own processes for logging, tagging, safeguarding, inventorying, and reporting GFE and CFE; lead warehouse support for government and customer property audits.
Own transportation and logistics among U.S. and international warehouses, production sites, and launch sites, including carrier and freight-forwarder strategy, oversized and high-value flight hardware moves, hazmat and ordnance shipments, and launch campaign logistics plans.
Ensure domestic and international shipments comply with ITAR, EAR, and customs requirements; coordinate export classification, shipping documentation, EEI filing, license drawdowns, and restricted-party screening with the Compliance Manager and freight forwarders.
Own the physical and system aspects of order-to-cash, including customer deliverables, shipments, acceptance documentation, and returns; partner with Programs, Procurement, and Finance to support accurate invoicing and revenue recognition.
Manage the Warehouse & Inventory operating and capital budget and lead the organization’s input to the annual budget process.
Create and manage tracking and reporting for program-level expedite fees and premium freight, reporting costs to program leadership and Finance and addressing their causes.
Support ERP (Odoo) system and data integrity and pursue barcoding, RFID, and other automation when justified by return.
Build a continuous-improvement culture and shared KPIs covering inventory accuracy, dock-to-stock time, on-time delivery, line-side fill rate, freight and expedite cost per program, quarantine aging, and safety.
Partner with Procurement, Programs, Quality, Engineering, Production, and Launch to support missions with high standards of safety and quality.
Follow positive employee relations practices and select and recommend candidates for hiring, promotion, recognition, discipline, and termination, maintaining appropriate documentation.