Launch Operations Manager, VSFB

Firefly Aerospace · Vandenberg, CA

Level: Manager
Team: Production
Base pay: $145k–$175k
Degree: Required
Experience asked: 5+ years
Industry: Aerospace & defense
Posted: 3 days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A management production role at Firefly Aerospace (aerospace & defense) in Vandenberg, CA. In addition to personnel and technical leadership, this role will contribute to the operation, upgrade and maintenance of all launch pad systems.

They ask for: 5+ years · degree required
Tools it names: Tooling
Base pay: $145k–$175k

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026

Production Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $125k–$177k. This one lists $145k–$175k.

Median of the low and high ends of 44 live postings that list pay, out of 120 production engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 119 other live production postings in California.

Base pay: About 11% above similar roles
Experience asked: Typical (5+ years)

Skills these teams ask for most

✓ New product launch 38%
Lean 30%
Root cause 28%
Automation 26%
Team leadership 23%
✓ Python 22%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

It asks for 5+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

1
Pick 2–3 people on the Production team at Firefly Aerospace
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

Full description from Firefly AerospaceAs posted on their careers site.Show

Responsibilities

◆Lead operation, maintenance and testing of the launch pad fluids, pneumatic mechanical, and electrical systems.
◆Facilitate hiring, training, and onboarding activities for the launch operations engineering team
◆Guide design reviews and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including design engineers, technicians, external partners, and site personnel to drive system upgrades, streamline operations, and validate system readiness and performance for launch campaigns.
◆Support launch pad system and flight vehicle system integrity testing to validate system health, performance and readiness for launch campaigns.
◆Lead troubleshooting efforts, resolve any issues and non-conformances that arise during operations/testing, and support anomaly investigations
◆Perform launch console operations or launch day close out team activities
◆Write procedures for system operation, maintenance, and vehicle testing operations.
◆Develop and execute maintenance strategies that maximize system availability and minimize downtime between missions.
◆Collaborate with customers, external stakeholders, and design teams to ensure interoperability and compliance with regulatory and range safety requirements.
◆Provide technical write-ups for systems upgrade proposals or tailoring of regulations.

Required

✓Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or related engineering discipline
✓5+ years of hands-on experience with fluids systems, pneumatic systems, mechanisms, hydraulic systems, electrical systems, tooling, flight hardware or test operations
✓2+ years of managing personnel
✓Experience designing, building, troubleshooting and/or operating complex fluid or pneumatic systems in an operational or project environment.
✓Ability to create and interpret engineering documentation including drawings, P&ID schematics and test data.
✓Able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high pressure fast-paced environment
✓Ability to self-motivate and take the initiative to ensure your systems are functional and operating at peak performance
✓Lead by example and work ethic
✓Ability to convey complex technical information clearly and concisely to technical and non-technical audiences
✓Comfortable working in launch site environments with field testing, lifting equipment, and hazardous materials.

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.

Show full description ↓

About firefly aerospace

Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company that enables our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the only commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the only company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Our launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide government and commercial customers with full mission services from low Earth orbit to 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' Launch team is hiring for high-impact, dynamic engineering position for those who thrive on solving real problems in diverse environments. We are looking for a technical manager to lead the propulsion, fluids, electrical, and mechanical engineers at Vandenberg SLC-2. In addition to personnel and technical leadership, this role will contribute to the operation, upgrade and maintenance of all launch pad systems.

Desired

+5+ yrs running console operations for integrated vehicle and pad operations
+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, RCC 319/324

Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, relocation benefits, 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.