Instrumentation & Controls Manager Engineering GSE

About the Role

Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company on a mission to reliably and repeatedly launch, land, and operate space systems from Earth to the Moon and beyond. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is looking for a leader to manage and mentor a team of engineers designing, implementing, and troubleshooting modern instrumentation and control systems for ground systems supporting next-generation launch vehicles and spacecraft.

Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Management
  • Lead and mentor a team of up to 10 engineers in the design, implementation, and troubleshooting of instrumentation and control systems for ground systems.
  • Recruit, develop, and retain top engineering talent with a passion for advancing space access.
  • Set clear goals, provide regular feedback, align individual development with company targets, conduct performance reviews, and nurture a healthy and challenging team culture.
  • Inspire and nurture a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement by challenging hardware and software norms and developing more effective workspaces and tools.
  • Define and manage project milestones, hand-off processes, and resource allocation forecasts.
• Technical Leadership
  • Oversee the design, development, testing, and deployment of Ground Support Equipment (GSE) control and instrumentation systems, including:
    • Functional test systems and automated test equipment (ATE).
    • Data acquisition systems and signal conditioning.
    • Control panels, junction panels, and vehicle umbilical/quick disconnect systems.
    • Sensor integration (thermocouples, RTDs, strain gauges, pressure transducers, etc.) for development.
  • Review and approve instrumentation and control system drawing packages, including:
    • Control & I/O diagrams.
    • Instrument and control cable schedules.
    • Instrument Loop Diagrams.
    • Junction box and control panel wiring diagrams.
  • Diagnose and resolve complex electrical problems in Integration, Test, and Launch systems.
  • Support test execution/troubleshooting and validate functional testing configurations.
  • Review and analyze test data to ensure the highest quality and accuracy.
  • Ensure compliance with aerospace quality standards, safety requirements, and local regulations.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Coordinate and manage relationships with interdisciplinary teams to set project requirements and balance technical rigor with program urgency.
  • Manage complex construction projects (e.g., new Test Stands, Launch Sites, vehicle transport systems), scope creep, and capital budgets for Ground Support projects.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in integration and/or testing of process control systems, spacecraft test equipment, or launch systems.
• Minimum 2 years of direct management experience or team leadership experience.
• Strong electrical fundamentals with hands-on experience using DMMs, power supplies, oscilloscopes, and small ADC/DAC circuits.
• Working knowledge of common electrical sensors (thermocouples, RTDs, strain gauges, pressure transducers, encoders, load cells, etc.).
• Excellent communication, planning, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability and desire to work with interdisciplinary teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Spacecraft or Launch Vehicle test and validation experience.
• Experience with launch site operations and GSE deployment.
• Experience programming PLCs/FPGAs.
• Experience programming and implementing HMIs (Human Machine Interfaces).
• Proficiency with motion controllers, signal conditioners, or data acquisition systems (e.g., National Instruments).
• Ability to write and simulate automated testing scripts in LabVIEW, Python, or similar.
• Familiarity with MIL-STD specifications and aerospace quality standards (AS9100, NASA).
• A balanced sense of urgency and risk management style to handle interdisciplinary conflicts.
• Experience managing vendor relationships and external contractors.

Benefits

• Generous health, dental, and vision plans with low plan deductibles.
• Parental leave.
• Educational reimbursement.
• Short-term disability.
• 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.