SUMMARYAs the Flight Dynamics Manager at Firefly Aerospace, you will lead a technical team supporting mission design, orbit determination, and maneuver planning for operational spacecraft across LEO and cislunar space. In this role, you will own all aspects of team leadership including recruitment, career development, and performance management while driving strategic planning, budget management, and operational execution. This position combines technical expertise in spacecraft flight dynamics with people leadership, requiring you to build team capabilities, foster a high-performing culture, and deliver mission-critical support in a fast-paced aerospace environment.
RESPONSIBILITIES- Lead a flight dynamics team supporting multiple spacecraft programs and development efforts
- Own all aspects of team staffing including recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and workforce planning
- Conduct performance evaluations and drive career development through mentorship and coaching of engineers at all levels
- Set flight dynamics objectives and communicate priorities to team members and cross-functional stakeholders
- Develop and manage the flight dynamics budget and annual operating plan
- Direct daily operations of the team ensuring timely delivery of mission-critical software development, analysis, and operational support
- Interface with program managers and mission stakeholders to allocate team responsibilities and establish execution schedules
- Drive flight dynamics strategy and roadmap development, identifying capability gaps and investment priorities
- Champion continuous improvement initiatives for flight dynamics processes, tools, and operational efficiency
- Foster a healthy team culture and maintain high morale in a demanding technical and operational environment
QUALIFICATIONSRequired- Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field
- 10+ years of experience in spacecraft flight dynamics with demonstrated expertise across mission design, orbit determination, and maneuver planning
- 5+ years of technical team leadership experience including direct management of engineers and technical staff
- Demonstrated experience supporting operational spacecraft missions through multiple mission phases
- Proven ability to recruit, hire, develop, and retain high-performing technical talent
- Demonstrated success building team capabilities through mentorship, training, and career development
- Experience managing team budgets, resource planning, and workforce forecasting
- Experience establishing technical standards, processes, and best practices for flight dynamics organizations
- Excellent communication skills with ability to convey complex technical concepts to executives, customers, and non-technical stakeholders
- Ability to foster a collaborative team culture while meeting demanding mission schedules
Desired- Advanced degree (master's or PhD) in aerospace engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field
- Knowledge of spacecraft subsystems and their impact on trajectory design and orbit determination
- Experience with Python and Linux
- Proficiency with one or more commercial flight dynamics software tools (STK, FreeFlyer, GMAT, ODTK, or similar)
- Experience developing strategic vision, technical roadmaps, and upgrade initiatives for flight dynamics teams
- Experience leading or supporting anomaly investigations and resolving critical mission issues
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.
