Chief Engineer, Elytra

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE

As an end-to-end space transportation company, Firefly Aerospace is on a mission to Launch, Orbit, and Land in the space regime. Our launch vehicles, orbital utility vehicles, and lunar landers provide government and commercial customers with full mission services from Earth orbit to the surface of the Moon and beyond. Headquartered in North Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for experienced and enthusiastic innovators to join our team and fuel our successful trajectory in space.

SUMMARY

We are seeking an innovative and experienced Chief Engineer to lead the development and engineering of our space utility vehicle product line including Elytra Dawn, Dusk, and Dark. This role is at the forefront of space exploration, driving the design, development, and deployment of an innovative vehicles that will support a variety of missions in space, including satellite servicing, transportation, technology demonstration, and on-orbit operations. The Chief Engineer will be responsible for overseeing the entire engineering lifecycle, from concept through launch and operation, ensuring that the vehicles meet all mission requirements and operate with the highest levels of safety, reliability, and efficiency. You will support the Engineering disciplines in managing the technical architecture and provide mentorship to the technical leads in all subsystems. Additionally, this position creates the program technical roadmap toward innovation and proposals.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Technical Leadership

• Lead the engineering design and development of the Elytra vehicles, ensuring that all technical requirements and specifications are satisfied.
• Oversee the integration of advanced propulsion systems, robotics, avionics, and other critical subsystems into the Elytra vehicles.
• Provide technical direction to multidisciplinary engineering teams, ensuring seamless collaboration and alignment with project goals.

2. Systems Engineering and Integration

• Manage the systems engineering process, including requirements definition, design trade-offs, and interface management.
• Ensure the successful integration of the Elytra’s subsystems, including propulsion, power, thermal, structural, and communication systems.
• Conduct design reviews, system validation, and verification activities to ensure mission success.
• Manage program risks including identification and mitigation and work with systems engineering on change control. Ensure robust testing and validation processes to verify system performance and reliability.

3. Innovation and R&D

• Drive innovation in the design and functionality of the Elytra vehicles, leveraging the latest advancements in space technology and materials science.
• Explore modern technologies and methodologies that can enhance the program’s capabilities and mission flexibility.
• Identify opportunities for improving the vehicle's design, performance, and operational efficiency.

4. Regulatory Compliance and Safety

• Ensure that the Elytra vehicles meet all relevant space industry standards, regulations, and safety protocols.
• Lead the development and implementation of safety plans, testing procedures, and quality assurance processes.
• Maintain a focus on mission assurance and risk management throughout the engineering process.

5 Stakeholder Engagement

• Function as the primary technical liaison with stakeholders, including customers, government agencies, and industry partners.
• Present technical updates, progress reports, and design reviews to senior leadership and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with business development teams to support proposals, customer engagements, and strategic partnerships.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field (master’s or Ph.D. preferred).
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in space systems engineering, with a strong background in spacecraft design and development.
• Proven record of leading complex engineering projects from concept through to deployment, preferably in space vehicle development.
• Deep understanding of spacecraft subsystems, including propulsion, power, thermal, and avionics.
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Excellent critical thinking skills and the ability to make critical technical decisions under pressure.
• Effective communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience with regulatory compliance and safety standards in the space industry.

Desired

• Experience with the design and development of space utility vehicles, satellite servicing vehicles, or similar spacecraft.
• Knowledge of in-space operations, including docking, rendezvous, and autonomous navigation.
• Experience with advanced materials, robotics, or AI in space applications.
• Project management certifications (e.g., PMP) and experience with Agile development processes.
• Active security clearance

Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, educational reimbursement, short term disability, and flexible PTO options.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Firefly Aerospace, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Firefly is governed based on merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.