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.

About the Role

As the Mission Architect, Lunar and Mars, you will be a Lunar and Mars subject matter expert (SME) overseeing mission architecture across Firefly’s Lunar and Mars portfolio. This role will 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 Lunar and Mars 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.

What You’ll Do

Mission Concept Development

• Lead the design of early-phase lunar and Mars mission concepts, including lander configurations, payload integration, orbital and surface strategies, and overall mission architecture.
• Conduct high-level systems-level trade studies to evaluate feasibility, identify technical risks, and guide decisions regarding cost, mass, and performance margins.
• Assess mission feasibility, risks, and performance margins to ensure proposed architectures are technically robust and achievable.
• Generate conceptual mission designs, diagrams, mass budgets, and high-level CONOPS for internal review and proposal support.
• Support RFP/RFI and concept study efforts by providing technical input, mission architecture documentation, and system feasibility analyses.
• Collaborate with engineering teams across propulsion, avionics, structures, GNC, thermal, and software to ensure new mission concepts align with Firefly’s technical baseline.
• Maintain modular mission architecture templates to accelerate concept maturation and proposal responses.
• Identify and document technical challenges, innovative approaches, and key design drivers for new lunar and Mars mission opportunities.

Proposal & RFP/RFI Support

• Provide technical input and documentation for RFPs, RFIs, white papers, and early-phase proposal efforts.
• Create clear, concise mission concept materials, diagrams, CONOPS, and feasibility assessments for both internal and customer-facing review.
• Collaborate with the Growth Director to ensure technical concepts align with customer objectives, schedules, and Firefly capabilities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with engineering teams (propulsion, GNC, avionics, software, thermal, structures) to validate assumptions and ensure conceptual designs are technically realistic.
• Serve as the technical liaison between the Growth Director and engineering teams during proposal and concept development.
• Maintain and evolve a library of modular mission architecture templates for rapid iteration across lunar and Mars missions.

Innovation & Forward-Looking Planning

• Identify emerging technologies, innovative approaches, and architecture strategies that enable next-generation lunar and Mars mission capabilities.
• Provide recommendations for future Firefly planetary vehicles, payload interfaces, and mission system improvements.

What We’re Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Astrophysics, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in spacecraft mission design, mission architecture, or advanced space systems engineering (or equivalent experience developing mission concepts for lunar or planetary missions).
• Demonstrated experience developing end-to-end mission architectures, including payload integration, lander/spacecraft configuration, orbital analysis, and surface operations.
• Strong background in systems engineering, including performing trade studies, mass and power budgeting, feasibility assessments, and risk identification.
• Experience supporting RFPs, RFIs, white papers, or early-phase proposal efforts with technical documentation.
• Ability to generate conceptual artifacts such as mission diagrams, CONOPS, mass budgets, and architecture packages.
• Familiarity with spacecraft subsystems (propulsion, GNC, avionics, structures, thermal, software) and the ability to collaborate effectively with subsystem SMEs.
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced, highly iterative environment, managing multiple concept studies and deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, especially in translating technical concepts for customer-facing materials

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Planetary Science, or a related field.
• Direct experience with lunar missions or cislunar mission architecture development (government, commercial, or academic).
• Hands-on experience with trajectory design tools or mission analysis software
• Prior experience working with commercial spaceflight companies or new-space proposal cycles.
• Familiarity with Firefly spacecraft platforms, lander systems, or similar commercial lunar delivery systems.
• Experience developing or managing modular mission architecture frameworks or reusable concept libraries.
• Background in advanced or emerging technologies relevant to lunar exploration (e.g., autonomous landing systems, ISRU, advanced GNC, mid-size landers).
• Experience acting as a technical liaison between business development and engineering teams.
• Strong understanding of NASA, CLPS, or international lunar mission requirements and proposal structures.

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.