Ground Software Manager, Launch Vehicles (Aerospace)

Location: North Austin, Texas, United States. Due to ITAR requirements, candidates must be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, protected individuals, or eligible to obtain the required U.S. authorizations.

Company

hirify.global develops space and defense technologies for launching, landing, and operating space systems from Earth to the Moon and beyond.

What you will do

• Lead the ground software team supporting engine testing, vehicle integration, launch site operations, countdown, launch, and post-launch activities.
• Define the technical vision, architecture, roadmaps, and execution strategy for launch vehicle ground systems.
• Oversee requirements, implementation, verification, validation, deployment, and operational support across the full software lifecycle.
• Guide development of command, control, telemetry processing, automation, visualization, and health-monitoring capabilities.
• Coordinate software integration with launch pads, test stands, hardware-in-the-loop environments, and integrated vehicle testing.
• Recruit, mentor, develop, and manage engineering staff, including performance management and career planning.

Requirements

• BS in computer science, software engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, systems engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of experience delivering software for mission-critical, industrial control, aerospace, defense, robotics, launch vehicle, spacecraft, or other high-reliability systems.
• 5+ years leading technical engineering teams with direct management responsibility.
• Experience delivering command-and-control software integrated with hardware and operational environments.
• Strong knowledge of distributed and service-oriented architectures, software deployment models, real-time telemetry, command, automation, or control systems.
• Experience with hardware integration, systems engineering, full software lifecycle management, and engineering talent development; familiarity with LabVIEW or Python.

Nice to have

• Experience with launch vehicle, spacecraft, missile, aviation, or aerospace ground systems.
• Experience with microservices, Docker, Kubernetes, cloud infrastructure such as AWS, telemetry platforms, messaging architectures, or time-series databases.
• Experience with cybersecurity, identity management, secure operational deployments, launch campaigns, or real-time engineering support.
• Advanced degree or active security clearance, or eligibility to obtain one.
• Experience applying model-based or specification-driven engineering, including AI-assisted translation of requirements into software artifacts and test cases.

Culture & Benefits

• Engineering culture focused on reliability, safety, continuous improvement, and collaboration.
• Support for launch campaigns, major test events, mission rehearsals, and real-time launch operations, including travel as needed.
• Health, dental, and vision plans with low deductibles.
• Parental leave, educational reimbursement, short-term disability, and flexible PTO options.
• Equal opportunity employment based on merit, competence, and qualifications.