Firefly Aerospace
ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE
As an end-to-end responsive space company, Firefly Aerospace is on a mission to enable our world to launch, land, and operate in space - anywhere, anytime. Our small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles allow us to service the entire lifecycle of government and commercial missions from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. We utilize carbon composite structures, patented propulsion technologies, and common components across our vehicles to iterate quickly, improve reliability, and deliver payloads at a lower cost.
SUMMARY
As the Manager of the Software Test team, you will lead the verification and validation of Firefly Aerospace's mission-critical software across all major programs, including our Alpha and Eclipse launch vehicles, Blue Ghost lunar lander, and Elytra orbital spacecraft. You will ensure our flight, ground, and embedded software systems meet rigorous safety, reliability, and performance standards required for space missions.
This role blends technical leadership with organizational management: you will define test strategies, build and lead a high-performing test organization, and partner with systems and mission assurance teams to deliver high-confidence software releases. By owning the test lifecycle, from unit testing and simulation to hardware-in-the-loop and mission rehearsals, you will safeguard the integrity of our vehicle software and directly contribute to Firefly's success on orbit and beyond.
RESPONSIBILITIES • Lead the Software Test team responsible for verification and validation of flight, ground, and embedded software. • Define and implement comprehensive test strategies, processes, and infrastructure across multiple programs. • Oversee development and execution of automated test frameworks, regression suites, integration tests, and mission rehearsals. • Direct system-level testing campaigns, including HIL, flatsat, cleanroom, and end-to-end mission simulations. • Establish and enforce quality standards, ensuring compliance with aerospace safety and reliability requirements. • Collaborate with software engineering, GNC, avionics, and mission assurance teams to ensure test coverage across interfaces and subsystems. • Drive continuous improvement of test processes, tooling, and metrics to accelerate delivery without compromising quality. • Manage staffing, mentoring, and professional growth of test engineers, building a resilient and high-functioning team. • Represent the Software Test team at design reviews, program milestone reviews, and with external partners and customers. • Identify, track, and mitigate test-related risks across the program lifecycle. • Contribute to long-term planning of test infrastructure, labs, and capital equipment needed for upcoming missions.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required: • BS in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field. • 7+ years of experience in software testing, verification & validation, or systems integration for aerospace or other safety-critical applications. • 3+ years in a technical or people-management leadership role. • Deep understanding of software test methodologies, automation frameworks, and test-driven development practices. • Experience with aerospace-relevant test environments (e.g., HIL, flatsat, cleanroom testing). • Strong knowledge of C++, Python, or similar languages used in aerospace software development and testing. • Familiarity with requirements management, traceability, and compliance in regulated environments. • Proven ability to lead teams through complex technical challenges and deliver reliable results on schedule. • Excellent organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
Desired: • MS or higher in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical field. • 10+ years of aerospace software V&V experience, including spacecraft or launch vehicle programs. • Experience with NASA, DoD, or other government space programs. • Working knowledge of standards such as DO-178C, ECSS, or AS9100. • Experience with configuration management, CI/CD pipelines, and modern DevOps practices for embedded software. • Active security clearance or eligibility to obtain one.
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.
As an end-to-end responsive space company, Firefly Aerospace is on a mission to enable our world to launch, land, and operate in space - anywhere, anytime. Our small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles allow us to service the entire lifecycle of government and commercial missions from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. We utilize carbon composite structures, patented propulsion technologies, and common components across our vehicles to iterate quickly, improve reliability, and deliver payloads at a lower cost.
SUMMARY
As the Manager of the Software Test team, you will lead the verification and validation of Firefly Aerospace's mission-critical software across all major programs, including our Alpha and Eclipse launch vehicles, Blue Ghost lunar lander, and Elytra orbital spacecraft. You will ensure our flight, ground, and embedded software systems meet rigorous safety, reliability, and performance standards required for space missions.
This role blends technical leadership with organizational management: you will define test strategies, build and lead a high-performing test organization, and partner with systems and mission assurance teams to deliver high-confidence software releases. By owning the test lifecycle, from unit testing and simulation to hardware-in-the-loop and mission rehearsals, you will safeguard the integrity of our vehicle software and directly contribute to Firefly's success on orbit and beyond.
RESPONSIBILITIES • Lead the Software Test team responsible for verification and validation of flight, ground, and embedded software. • Define and implement comprehensive test strategies, processes, and infrastructure across multiple programs. • Oversee development and execution of automated test frameworks, regression suites, integration tests, and mission rehearsals. • Direct system-level testing campaigns, including HIL, flatsat, cleanroom, and end-to-end mission simulations. • Establish and enforce quality standards, ensuring compliance with aerospace safety and reliability requirements. • Collaborate with software engineering, GNC, avionics, and mission assurance teams to ensure test coverage across interfaces and subsystems. • Drive continuous improvement of test processes, tooling, and metrics to accelerate delivery without compromising quality. • Manage staffing, mentoring, and professional growth of test engineers, building a resilient and high-functioning team. • Represent the Software Test team at design reviews, program milestone reviews, and with external partners and customers. • Identify, track, and mitigate test-related risks across the program lifecycle. • Contribute to long-term planning of test infrastructure, labs, and capital equipment needed for upcoming missions.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required: • BS in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field. • 7+ years of experience in software testing, verification & validation, or systems integration for aerospace or other safety-critical applications. • 3+ years in a technical or people-management leadership role. • Deep understanding of software test methodologies, automation frameworks, and test-driven development practices. • Experience with aerospace-relevant test environments (e.g., HIL, flatsat, cleanroom testing). • Strong knowledge of C++, Python, or similar languages used in aerospace software development and testing. • Familiarity with requirements management, traceability, and compliance in regulated environments. • Proven ability to lead teams through complex technical challenges and deliver reliable results on schedule. • Excellent organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
Desired: • MS or higher in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical field. • 10+ years of aerospace software V&V experience, including spacecraft or launch vehicle programs. • Experience with NASA, DoD, or other government space programs. • Working knowledge of standards such as DO-178C, ECSS, or AS9100. • Experience with configuration management, CI/CD pipelines, and modern DevOps practices for embedded software. • Active security clearance or eligibility to obtain one.
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.