Technical Project Manager II-GSE

About Firefly Aerospace

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. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is the partner of choice for critical space missions, the first commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24‑hour notice, and the first company to achieve a successful Moon landing.

About the Role

This role leads the execution of Firefly’s most ambitious capital projects—test stands, launch sites, and test fixtures that enable rockets to reach orbit and spacecraft to land on the Moon. The Technical Program Manager will guide interdisciplinary engineering teams from concept through commissioning, make technical trade‑off decisions, manage multi‑million‑dollar budgets, and be on‑site during critical milestones to ensure successful delivery of large‑scale infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership & Engineering Management: Serve as the technical arbiter for resolving engineering differences across mechanical, electrical, fluids, structures, and controls disciplines; lead interdisciplinary teams of 3‑10 engineers; evaluate design approaches with engineering judgment, analysis, and cost‑benefit studies; review and approve calculations, drawings, models, and specifications; drive technical reviews (PDR, CDR, ORR) and push teams toward optimal solutions.
• Capital Project Management: Own end‑to‑end execution of major capital projects ($1M‑$20M+) for test fixtures, test stands, and launch sites; manage greenfield construction and brownfield upgrades; develop and maintain comprehensive project plans (scope, schedule, budget, resources); rigorously control scope and change requests; track budgets and forecast spend; manage critical‑path schedules and resource loading; coordinate procurement, contractors, vendors, and internal stakeholders; mitigate risks, issues, and dependencies; ensure projects meet technical, safety, and quality standards, including high‑pressure fluids, cryogenic propellants, high‑vibration systems, and measurement accuracy.
• Stakeholder Management & Communication: Communicate project status, risks, issues, and budget performance to executive leadership; present technical briefings and executive summaries; negotiate competing priorities across programs; facilitate communication between engineering, operations, construction, and business teams; align deliverables with business objectives and customer needs; maintain relationships with external contractors, vendors, and regulatory agencies.
• Process & Documentation: Develop and maintain project documentation (plans, technical specifications, status reports, risk registers, meeting minutes); manage formal change control processes; ensure compliance with engineering standards, safety regulations, building codes, and aerospace industry best practices; implement project‑management best practices and continuous‑improvement initiatives; maintain as‑built documentation and lessons learned; support cost‑estimating databases and schedule templates for future projects.
• Team Leadership: Provide leadership, guidance, and mentorship to project teams; drive accountability and execution across cross‑functional groups; foster collaborative problem‑solving and innovation; build high‑performing teams that deliver results under challenging conditions; identify and develop talent within project teams.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 3‑5 years of experience managing complex technical projects with a proven track record of delivering capital infrastructure projects on time and within budget.
• Strong technical foundation to understand and evaluate engineering analyses, drawings, and specifications across multiple disciplines.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve technical conflicts and make engineering trade‑off decisions.
• Experience managing multi‑million‑dollar budgets and complex project schedules.
• Project‑management skills including planning, execution, risk management, and delivery.
• Experience leading cross‑functional teams of 10+ people across engineering, construction, and operations.
• Excellent communication skills for presenting technical information to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities.
• Proficiency with project‑management tools (MS Project, Primavera P6, or similar).
• Experience with CAD software and ability to read engineering drawings (P&IDs, electrical schematics, structural drawings).
• Knowledge of project‑management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid).
• Understanding of construction‑management principles and contractor coordination.
• Flexibility to travel up to 30% to project sites and support critical milestones, including extended hours.
• U.S. Person status required (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee) due to ITAR/EAR requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering, MBA, or Engineering Management.
• Project‑management certification (PMP, PgMP, Scrum Master, or equivalent).
• 10+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, energy, or petrochemical industries.
• Direct experience with rocket‑engine test stands, launch‑pad construction, or propulsion test facilities.
• Knowledge of cryogenic fluid systems, high‑pressure gas systems, and propellant handling.
• Understanding of rocket‑engine operations, test procedures, and safety systems.
• Experience with Design‑Build or EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) delivery methods.
• Familiarity with NASA standards (NASA‑STD‑5005), AFSPC launch‑site standards, or similar aerospace infrastructure requirements.
• Knowledge of systems‑engineering processes and tools (requirements management, V&V, configuration management).
• Experience with thermal modeling, CFD analysis, or structural FEA for test‑stand environments.
• Understanding of ASME pressure‑vessel codes, NFPA codes, and relevant building codes.
• Experience managing projects through permitting, environmental review, and regulatory approval processes.
• Proficiency with Earned Value Management (EVM) principles and cost/schedule integration.
• Advanced scheduling tool experience (P6 Primavera, Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, etc.).
• Familiarity with Odoo ERP or similar enterprise systems.
• Knowledge of AS9100 or ISO 9001 quality‑management systems.
• Lean or Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt).
• Experience with fast‑track construction schedules and compressed project timelines.
• Previous experience supporting launch operations or test campaigns.

Benefits

• Generous health, dental, and vision plans with low deductibles.
• Parental leave.
• Educational and relocation reimbursement.
• Short‑term disability.
• Flexible PTO options.