Launch Site Director (Wallops, VA) - Firefly Aerospace

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE

As an end-to-end space transportation company, Firefly Aerospace is on a mission to enable our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. Our launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide government and commercial customers with full mission services from low Earth orbit to the surface of the Moon and beyond. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space.

SUMMARY

Firefly seeks a highly motivated leader to shepherd our new Wallops Launch Operations and Facilities team through site development and future launch campaigns. A successful candidate enjoys leading multi-disciplinary teams to solve technical problems and is comfortable presenting to customer and range personnel to ensure fulfillment of programmatic needs. Launch Operations are the last step in any launch vehicle value stream and require precision in every operation.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinate the local effort to install and fabricate pad upgrades in support of the Alpha and MLV launch vehicle programs
• Direct Alpha launch campaigns from pre-vehicle arrival pad preparations, integrated vehicle checkouts and on-pad launch operations
• Lead daily tagups for launch campaigns and pad development to ensure programs are on schedule and within budget
• Manage pad preventative maintenance team to maximize pad availability and reduce operational costs
• Identify opportunities to reduce launch campaign durations and scope
• Work with vehicle and operations teams to ensure all relevant procedures, documentation and tools are updated for vehicle or site upgrades
• Develop weekly operating rhythm to ensure pad maintenance, repairs and updates are on track to complete prior to vehicle arrival
• Work with program team to develop Integrated Master Schedule for the vehicle and pad operations for each flight
• Lead intermittent schedule status reviews with the Program Managers and executive leadership showing progress, forecast and schedule metrics
• Develop financial and resource budgets to meet program directed launch cadences and upgrades
• Lead local hiring activities for the launch operations and facility team members
• Coordinate with SLD/30 Safety Teams to guarantee deliverables, reviews and support for each mission
• Coordinate with range operations teams, NASA, Virginia Spaceport Authority, and other stakeholders to ensure successful program execution
• Ensure that all documentation, licensing, contracts, commodities and other required items are established and in place for each launch campaign

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Project Engineering or Aircraft Operations (equivalent military or operations experience may meet desire)
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary engineering and operations teams and
• Experience managing annual budget planning process and successful project execution
• 10+ years of experience in a technical/project engineering role
• 5+ years of experience in aerospace leadership across complex systems
• Exceptional computer skills (MS Excel, MS Project, MS Visio)
• Strong communication skills in technical work environments

Desired

• 5+ yrs running console operations for integrated vehicle and pad operations
• Experience with Atlassian products like Confluence & Jira
• Familiarity with version control systems like SVN, Bitbucket, etc
• Prior launch vehicle operations at test or launch facilities
• Working knowledge of data viewing tools in Python, LabView, Matlab, etc
• Experience in development and/or operations of launch vehicles
• USG and Commercial launch proposal support
• Familiarity with AFSPCMAN 91-710, NASA- STD-5005, GSFC-STD-8009, RCC 319/324, etc.

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.