Firefly Aerospace

Mission Architect, Space Superiority

Firefly Aerospace$120K — $150K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, or related field
  • 10+ years of experience in the space industry (7+ years with Master's)
  • Minimum of 3 years in a mission architect role
  • Deep knowledge of space and small/medium satellite industries
  • Expertise in National Security Space (NSS) missions, particularly in Space Control and Space Domain Awareness
  • Strong communication skills for interaction with senior leadership and external customers
  • Active Top Secret security clearance

Responsibilities

  • Collaboratively lead interdisciplinary teams on complex technical projects
  • Support front-end business development including proposals and customer engagement
  • Maintain strong customer relationships with the business development team
  • Define architecture and system requirements for missions
  • Lead modeling and simulation efforts to assess system performance
  • Develop CONOPS at spacecraft and mission levels
  • Architect and implement Space Control and Space Domain Awareness solutions

Benefits

  • Generous health, dental, and vision plans with low deductibles
  • Parental leave
  • Educational reimbursement
  • Short term disability
  • Flexible PTO options
Full Job Description
About the Role

As the Mission Architect, Space Superiority, you will be a Space Control and/or Space Domain Awareness subject matter expert (SME) overseeing mission architectures across Firefly's Space Superiority portfolio. This role will be be 80% focused on new business efforts and 20% supporting active program efforts in a SME capacity. You will oversee all aspects of designing, developing, and fielding Space Superiority missions, including integration with ground and user segments. You will closely work with business development, directors, external customers, and other subject matter experts to shape the feasibility of new missions and architect existing missions. You will be integral to writing proposals, requirements definition, system design, integration & test, and on-orbit operations. Firefly is open to hiring individuals who cover one or both mission areas.

What You'll Do
  • Collaboratively lead interdisciplinary teams through advanced, complex technical projects for the design, development, integration, and testing of customer solutions, including developing concept of operations, mission requirements, and system architectures
  • Support front-end business development efforts including customer engagement, white papers, proposals, and studies
  • Maintain strong customer awareness and develop customer relationships in partnership with the business development team.
  • Define architecture and system requirements for Space Control and/or Space Domain Awareness missions
  • Lead modeling and simulation efforts to assess system performance
  • Develop CONOPS at the spacecraft, constellation, and mission level
  • Architect and implement Space Control and Space Domain Awareness solutions
  • Lead internal technical projects and end-to-end engineering activities to meet the company's strategic growth objectives
  • Work with program execution teams as they mature their solutions through critical design review

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications:

Educational Background: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, or related field

Experience: 10+ years of experience in the space industry (7+ years with Master's degree) with a minimum of 3 years' experience in a mission architect role

Expertise:
  • Deep knowledge of the space and small/medium satellite industries
  • Deep knowledge of National Security Space (NSS) missions for both US DoW and IC, primarily in Space Control and/or Space Domain Awareness
  • Strong background related to rendezvous and proximity operations, spacecraft autonomy, GNC, and mission architecture
  • Demonstrated expertise in RPO mission design and spacecraft operations.
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to effectively communicate with senior leadership and external customers about space systems
  • Ability to develop strong interpersonal relationships both internally and externally
  • Excellent leadership and management skills
  • Strong team player that can collaborate across all levels and functions
  • Ability to manage assignments and deadlines effectively
  • Ability to teach and mentor teammates to improve overall team performance
  • Professional with a high degree of integrity
  • Active Top Secret security clearance

Desired Qualifications:

Educational Background: Master's or PhD in engineering, Physics, or related field

Expertise:
  • Active TS/SCI security clearance
  • Experience with USG controlled access programs
  • Strong understanding of and experience working space control and space domain awareness programs


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.

About Firefly Aerospace

Firefly Aerospace is an aerospace and defense company that develops and manufactures launch vehicles for the small satellite market. The company was founded in 2014 by Tom Markusic and Max Polyakov. Firefly's launch vehicles are designed to provide affordable and reliable access to space for small satellite operators. The company's flagship product is the Alpha rocket, which is capable of delivering payloads of up to 1,000 kg to low Earth orbit. Firefly is backed by a group of investors, including DADA Holdings, Noosphere Ventures, and Astera Institute.
Learn more about Firefly Aerospace
Industry
Founded
2014

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Firefly Aerospace

More Aerospace & Defense Jobs

Find similar Mission Architect, Space Superiority jobs: