Firefly Aerospace
Launch Operations Manager, VSFB
$145K–$175K
Vandenberg, CA · Manager · Full-time · Posted Oct 21, 2026
- Experience
- 5+ years of hands-on experience; 2+ years managing personnel. Desired: 5+ years running console operations.
- Education
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- Visa sponsorship
- 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 comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations including ITAR.
About the job
Leads the launch operations engineering team at Vandenberg SLC-2 and oversees launch pad systems operation, maintenance, testing, and upgrades.
What you'll do
- Lead operation, maintenance, testing, troubleshooting, and upgrades of launch pad systems; support launch readiness and anomaly investigations.
- Manage and develop the engineering team, including hiring, training, and onboarding.
- Write operating and maintenance procedures, develop maintenance strategies, and support launch console or launch-day activities.
What they ask for
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- 5+ years of hands-on experience with relevant systems, hardware, or test operations; 2+ years managing personnel.
- Experience designing, building, troubleshooting, and/or operating complex fluid or pneumatic systems.
- Ability to create and interpret engineering documentation, including drawings, P&ID schematics, and test data.
Nice to have
- 5+ years running console operations for integrated vehicle and pad operations; prior launch vehicle operations at test or launch facilities.
- Familiarity with version control systems such as SVN or Bitbucket, data viewing tools such as Python, LabView, or Matlab, or AFSPCMAN 91-710 and RCC 319/324.
Pay
$145,000 - $175,000 USD base salary
Tools
SVN, Bitbucket, Python, LabView, Matlab, AFSPCMAN 91-710, RCC 319/324
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative