Ground Operator Jobs in Wisconsin (NOW HIRING)

Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company on a mission to reliably and repeatedly launch, land, and operate space systems from Earth to the Moon and beyond. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the first commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24‑hour notice and the first company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Headquartered in North Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space.

As the Manager, Spacecraft Ground Software at Firefly Aerospace, you will lead the organization responsible for designing, developing, deploying, and operating the software systems that enable Firefly’s spacecraft throughout assembly, integration and test, launch, and on‑orbit mission operations. You will establish the long‑term technical vision for Firefly’s spacecraft ground segment software suite while managing the engineering organization responsible for spacecraft command and control, mission operations software, telemetry processing, mission planning, data processing pipelines, operator interfaces, and the software platforms that enable mission operations.

This role combines organizational leadership with deep technical systems expertise. You will serve as the primary technical authority for Firefly’s enterprise spacecraft ground software architecture, driving the evolution of a common, scalable ground software platform that supports multiple spacecraft programs, customers, and mission types. You will lead a growing engineering organization responsible for delivering highly reliable mission‑critical software supporting lunar missions, national security programs, and future exploration initiatives.

Working closely with spacecraft operations, flight software, systems engineering, assembly, integration and test (AI&T), IT infrastructure, networking, cybersecurity, and enterprise engineering teams, you will ensure Firefly’s spacecraft ground software suite provides secure, scalable, and operationally robust capabilities throughout every phase of a mission from vehicle integration and testing through launch, on‑orbit operations, and mission completion.

• Lead the Spacecraft Ground Software organization in the design and development of software systems supporting spacecraft integration, testing, mission rehearsals, launch campaigns, commissioning, and on‑orbit mission operations.
• Establish the long‑term technical vision and architecture for Firefly’s enterprise spacecraft ground software ecosystem.
• Build, mentor, and grow a high‑performing engineering organization through recruiting, hiring, technical leadership, career development, and performance management.
• Drive the evolution of service‑oriented and distributed software architectures supporting mission‑critical spacecraft operations.
• Drive architectural standardization and reusable software platforms across Firefly spacecraft programs to reduce mission‑specific development and improve operational consistency.
• Partner with spacecraft operations, flight software, systems engineering, AI&T, IT infrastructure, networking, cybersecurity, and enterprise engineering teams to develop integrated operational solutions.
• Oversee execution across the complete software lifecycle, including requirements development, architecture, implementation, verification, validation, deployment, operations, and sustainment.
• Lead software systems engineering activities, translating mission concepts and operational requirements into scalable technical architectures and execution plans.
• Ensure reliable spacecraft commanding, telemetry processing, mission planning, data processing, visualization, automation, and operator workflows across all spacecraft programs.
• Guide deployment strategies spanning development environments, hardware‑in-the‑loop test beds, integration facilities, mission operations centers, cloud infrastructure, and operational venues.
• Establish engineering processes including architecture reviews, design reviews, configuration management, release management, verification, operational readiness, and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate closely with mission operations during rehearsals, launch campaigns, anomaly resolution, and real‑time spacecraft operations.
• Develop technical roadmaps supporting future multi‑mission, multi‑tenant, highly available, and cloud‑enabled ground software architectures.
• Foster a culture centered on engineering excellence, operational reliability, mission success, safety, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• BS in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of experience developing, architecting, or delivering software systems supporting spacecraft, aerospace, defense, robotics, or other mission‑critical operational environments.
• 5+ years of engineering management experience with direct responsibility for technical teams.
• Strong background in software systems engineering, software architecture, or technical leadership for large distributed software systems.
• Experience designing and deploying service‑oriented, distributed, or microservice‑based software architectures.
• Demonstrated experience translating operational concepts into software architectures, interface definitions, technical roadmaps, and execution plans.
• Experience managing software programs throughout the complete engineering lifecycle, including requirements development, architecture, verification, validation, deployment, operations, and sustainment.
• Strong understanding of cloud‑based and on‑premises deployment architectures for mission‑critical software systems.
• Experience collaborating across multidisciplinary organizations including software, systems engineering, operations, IT, and cybersecurity.
• Proven ability to recruit, mentor, and develop high‑performing engineering teams.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate technical concepts across engineering disciplines, customers, and executive leadership.
• Experience supporting national security space programs or classified spacecraft missions.
• Experience leading the development or operation of spacecraft ground segments for operational missions.
• Experience with mission planning systems, flight dynamics software, spacecraft scheduling, command generation, or mission automation systems.
• Experience designing telemetry processing pipelines and transforming raw spacecraft telemetry into derived engineering and science data products.
• Familiarity with spacecraft communications protocols and standards including CCSDS telemetry, telecommand, CFDP, SLE, SDLS, or related technologies.
• Experience with cloud‑native software deployment using Kubernetes, Docker, AWS, or similar technologies.
• Experience with high‑volume telemetry systems, streaming data platforms, messaging architectures, or time‑series databases.
• Experience with networking, enterprise identity management, cybersecurity frameworks, and secure deployment of operational software systems.
• Experience supporting mission readiness reviews, mission rehearsals, launch campaigns, anomaly investigations, and real‑time mission operations.
• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• 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.