Senior Manger-GSE Production at Firefly Aerospace in Briggs, TX

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE

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.

About the Role

Lead the fabrication backbone of Firefly's Ground Support Equipment Team as the Senior Manager of GSE Fabrication. This role involves oversight and leadership over the activities in the GSE weldshop, GSE field technicians, OTW welding, GSE fluids panel shop, the traveling GSE technician team, and I&C technician teams. You will work hand in hand with the GSE process manager to support the various work centers/factories under your umbrella.

As Senior Manager of GSE Fabrication, you'll lead a multidisciplinary fabrication team responsible for the fabrication, assembly, and installation of ground support equipment across all of Firefly’s programs. Your team will primarily work out of Briggs but will support remote build sites and travel to complete critical projects across all Firefly locations. Your responsibilities span welding, panel fabrication, cleaning, proofing, valve repair, drag-on installation, and instrumentation & control (I&C) integration.

This role demands both technical depth and leadership excellence. You'll manage a team of fabrication specialists working on concurrent projects worth millions of dollars. You'll make critical fabrication decisions, navigate complex technical trade-offs, identify and escalate blockers, and represent GSE fabrication capabilities to executive leadership, customers, and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Management:

• Lead and manage GSE fabrication teams including weld team, build technicians, OTW welding, panel shop, and I&C technicians
• Recruit, hire, and develop top fabrication talent with expertise in welding, panel fabrication, and I&C integration
• Set team goals, provide coaching and mentorship, and conduct performance reviews.
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, innovation, collaboration, and accountability
• Build cross-functional working relationships with other GSE teams, Test Operations, and Production
• Develop succession plans and career paths for fabrication specialists
• Champion diversity and inclusion within the fabrication team

Fabrication Management:

• Oversee all fabrication activities including welding, panel fabrication, and I&C integration
• Ensure fabrication processes meet quality standards, safety regulations, and project specifications
• Coordinate with the GSE process manager to align fabrication activities with overall GSE objectives
• Manage fabrication schedules and resource plans for fabrication efforts
• Track fabrication progress, identify risks, and implement mitigation strategies including overtime, weekend support, improved tooling, or organizational solutions.
• Manage scope changes and ensure proper change control processes
• Manage Fabrication sprint using Agile principles and best practices

Technical Leadership & Decision-Making:

• Serve as technical authority for fabrication decisions on complex GSE systems.
• Review and approve fabrication plans, procedures, and documentation
• Act as a Safety Leaders on the floor and across Firefly
• Own the quality of GSE fabrication efforts – addressing and correcting gaps in training, quality misses, and other nonconformances or shortages
• Resolve technical conflicts and drive consensus on competing fabrication approaches
• Champion design-for-manufacturability, design-for-assembly, and design-for-maintenance principles.
• Conduct and enforce lessons learned, and continuous improvement practices in the work-centers
• Drive innovation in fabrication methodologies, tools, and technologies
• Monitor vendor performance on quality, schedule, and technical compliance

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Partner with Engineering, Leadership, and applicable Operations teams to schedule and execute fabrication/installation efforts without interfering with ongoing operations or other design plans
• Provide and maintain a cohesive resource plan for GSE Leadership
• Support Facilities team on shop infrastructure and equipment needs
• Engage with customers and stakeholders on technical requirements and fabrication reviews

Commissioning & Operational Support:

• Support commissioning activities for new fabrication systems including pressure testing, leak testing, and functional verification
• Provide fabrication support during system activation, checkout, and initial operations
• Troubleshoot fabrication issues during commissioning and operations
• Conduct post-commissioning reviews and implement fabrication improvements
• Support test campaigns with fabrication expertise and rapid problem resolution

Strategic Planning & Continuous Improvement:

• Develop long-term fabrication capability roadmaps aligned with Firefly's strategic objectives
• Identify technology gaps and develop plans to address capability needs
• Benchmark against industry best practices and drive adoption of advanced methodologies
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance fabrication quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 10+ years of fabrication management experience in aerospace, defense, oil and gas, or similar industries
• Minimum 5+ years of fabrication leadership or people management experience
• Strong background in welding, fluid system fabrication, and I&C integration
• Experience with fabrication processes including welding, machining, and assembly
• Experience with quality management systems including AS9100
• Deep knowledge of fabrication standards and codes including AWS, ASME, ISO
• Familiarity with AS9100 Quality management systems
• Experience managing fabrication teams and delivering complex technical projects
• Proven ability to manage schedules and resources across multiple projects
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to make sound fabrication judgments under pressure
• Excellent communication skills and conflict resolution skills for diverse audiences
• Ability to work in fast-paced environment with evolving requirements and tight deadlines
• Flexibility to support critical operations including extended hours and occasional travel
• U. S. Person status required (U. S. Citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident, Refugee, or Asylee) due to ITAR/EAR requirements

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, a related field, or applicable Technical management expertise
• 15+ years of experience in aerospace ground support equipment, test or launch infrastructure fabrication
• Direct experience with rocket engine test stands, launch pads, or propulsion test facilities fabrication
• Experience with cryogenic fluid systems including liquid oxygen, liquid methane, liquid nitrogen, or liquid hydrogen fabrication and cleanliness standards
• Functional experience with CAD software (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or similar) and fabrication planning tools
• Background in high-pressure gas systems, cryogenic fluid systems, and rotating equipment
• Knowledge of NASA standards including NASA-STD-5005 (Ground Support Equipment) and related specifications
• Familiarity with MIL-STD specifications and military/government engineering requirements
• Experience with AS9100 aerospace quality management systems
• Proficiency with fabrication planning and scheduling software and tools, like JIRA
• Knowledge of oxygen cleaning requirements per ASTM G93 and CGA standards
• Experience with hazardous location design and NFPA 70 electrical area classification fabrication
• Six Sigma or Lean certification.
• Experience with Odoo ERP or similar enterprise systems.
• Previous experience managing fabrication teams in startup or high-growth environments.

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