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Modular Unmanned Autonomous Systems | Designed for the Warfighter, Built at the Edge.
The Role
Lead design and development of a novel metal manufacturing capability from concept through production. Define processes, parameters, and quality criteria for additive and subtractive workflows, oversee post-processing and inspection, drive new product development and sustaining engineering, and provide technical leadership across mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, and software interfaces.
Summary Generated by Built In
Firestorm is building a deployable metal manufacturing cell, a new xCell variant that puts metal part production inside a container and takes it to the field. The concept is defined and the technology is selected. What doesn't exist yet is the machine.
We're looking for a Staff Systems Engineer who wants to own hard problems from concept and requirements through production (this is not a maintenance role). You have a senior engineering background and experience taking complex capital equipment from concept to fielded product, and you know how to turn a manufacturing process into a machine that survives being shipped, set up, and operated a long way from a factory.
You'll work as a senior individual contributor with real autonomy, but you also understand the value of input from your teammates. You'll help build and field metal manufacturing and other systems at a company that is still early enough for your fingerprints to matter. If you want to spend your time in a large program office working minutiae and moving PowerPoints, this isn't the right place. If you want to build things that matter, that have near term impact, and work with a tight team that acts with both urgency and rigor, we should talk.
- System integration: lead the integration of the metal manufacturing cell as a system, including container architecture and layout, structural and thermal design, power distribution, gas supply, and fume extraction and filtration. You turn a set of subsystems into a product.
- Controls and electrical integration: motion control, interlocks, safety circuits, and machine interfaces. You coordinate across our suppliers and our own software team so the cell behaves as one machine rather than several.
- Design reviews and gate packages: you are the responsible engineer at PDR, CDR, and FDR, owning the drawings, interface definitions, verification plans, and the evidence that each gate has actually been met.
- Build, commissioning, and test: stand the cell up, run factory and site acceptance testing, and prove it survives transport and the field. Shock, vibration, and environmental qualification sit with you.
- Supplier technical management: work with metal deposition, motion, container, and other equipment partners. Hold them to spec, review what they deliver, and ensure they stay aligned with our scope.
- Post-processing and finishing integration: integrate the full part journey from raw feedstock through final part, including CNC machining, finishing operations, and inspection. You understand that additive is only part of the story.
- Sustaining and technical leadership: when something breaks in the field or fails to deliver as advertised, you help drive solutions with the xCell engineering team. You are a senior anchor on a growing team and elevate the engineers around you without being asked.
- Cross-functional collaboration: you work closely with the xCell engineering team, software team, quality, manufacturing, and suppliers.
- Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering, or a related field. In lieu of a degree, 10+ years of progressive relevant experience in the engineering field.
- U.S. citizenship required due to ITAR regulations, with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance
- 7+ years of hands-on hardware development experience, from concept through production, not just analysis
- Experience integrating capital equipment or complex machinery into a transportable or ruggedized package — containerized, shipboard, mobile, trailer, or shelter-based systems all count
- Demonstrated ownership through a formal gate-based development cycle. You have been the responsible engineer at a PDR/CDR or equivalent formal design review, not an attendee.
- Hands-on commissioning experience: you have brought a machine up, found out what was actually wrong with it, and fixed it
- Hands-on experience with machining or metal fabrication, and an understanding of how those processes fit into a production flow
- Systems engineering mindset: you can hold requirements, tradeoffs, and interfaces in your head simultaneously
- Proficiency with CAD (SolidWorks preferred) and PLM tools
- Experience with metal additive manufacturing, including powder bed fusion, directed energy deposition (DED), wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), or cold spray. We'd rather you know what you're looking at than be an expert in all of it.
- Experience developing a transportable and/or ruggedized system. Containerized, shipboard, mobile, trailer, or shelter-based systems all count.
- Environmental or transport qualification experience: MIL-STD-810, DO-160, shock and vibration testing, or equivalent
- Controls or electrical integration experience: PLCs, robot controllers, industrial networks, safety circuits
- Experience designing equipment that will be operated by people who are not engineers
- Experience in defense, aerospace, naval, medical, or automotive applications. We care more about the depth of your hardware integration experience than the sector it came from.
- Familiarity with metal part qualification and inspection in regulated or defense environments
About Firestorm
Firestorm is a defense technology company solving one of the hardest logistics problems in modern warfare — how do you manufacture what you need, when you need it, and where you need it without support from traditional supply chains? Our answer is xCell: containerized, deployable manufacturing units built around advanced additive and traditional manufacturing that go where warfighters go. We're roughly 200 people, headquartered in San Diego, and we're past concept — xCell systems are in the field in both OCONUS and CONUS today and our development pipeline is aggressive.
Why This Role, Why Now
xCell is at an inflection point. We have a fielded product, real customers, and an ambitious roadmap that includes metal manufacturing capabilities that will push the boundaries of what's possible in a deployed environment. The engineer who takes this role will define how we get there — with the autonomy to shape the approach and a team behind them that takes the work seriously. Relocation assistance available for the right candidate.
Work Environment
- Based onsite at our San Diego, CA. Headquarters
- We welcome candidates who are local or open to relocating; relocation assistance is available and may be included in the offer package where appropriate.
- Travel up to 25%, customer sites and events
This position typically operates in a standard office setting and manufacturing environment. This role requires use of standard office equipment and may involve exposure to loud noise, heat, cold, dust, or chemicals (with PPE). The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Ability to sit, stand, bend, reach, climb, and move about regularly throughout the day. Must have manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment.
Compensation
- Base salary: $165,000 - $180,000 base, commensurate with experience
- Equity: Meaningful equity grant in a growth-stage defense technology company
The posted salary range reflects an estimate based on a variety of compensation factors, including but not limited to relevant experience, education, certifications, specialized skills, geographic location, and business needs. Actual compensation may vary, and this range is subject to change as our compensation structure or market conditions evolve.
Benefits & Perks
Our culture fosters collaboration, respect, and trust, empowering passionate people to do their best work. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth. In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation:
- We offer comprehensive medical, dental, and visions plans
- 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals
- Equity grants for new hires
- Unlimited PTO
- Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in July, & December.
- Generous Parental Leave
- Lifestyle Spending Account
- FSA
- DCFSA
- HSA
- Hospital Indemnity insurance
- Critical Illness insurance
- Accident insurance
- Basic Life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, 100% covered by Firestorm. Plus, the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your family.
- Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available to you as well.
Export Control Compliance
To conform to U.S. government export control regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), 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 otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Firestorm is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, and upholding equitable hiring practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic under federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process.
Firestorm is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require accommodations or assistance during the application process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected] so we can provide the support you need.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering or related field, or 10+ years progressive relative engineering experience
- U.S. Citizenship required (ITAR) with ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance
- 7+ years hands-on hardware development experience from concept through production
- Deep experience in metal additive manufacturing (strong powder bed fusion background)
- Hands-on CNC machining experience and integration with additive processes
- Systems engineering mindset; ability to hold requirements, tradeoffs, and interfaces
- Proficiency with CAD (SolidWorks preferred) and PLM tools
- Experience with post-processing, finishing operations, and inspection workflows
Firestorm Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Firestorm and has not been reviewed or approved by Firestorm.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as comprehensive across medical, dental, and vision, with company‑paid life/AD&D and short‑ and long‑term disability plus optional hospital indemnity, critical illness, and accident insurance. Tax‑advantaged accounts and mental‑health resources are also highlighted.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time off includes “unlimited PTO” and an unusually generous holiday calendar that features a year‑end hiatus. Generous parental leave is also called out.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Multiple postings list explicit salary ranges for roles across engineering, operations, and field positions, and internship hourly rates are published. These disclosures provide clearer expectations on cash compensation for many candidates.
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The Company
What We Do
We are building the future of modular, open-source architectures supporting the Department of Defense requirements to create Affordable Mass. Firestorm is redefining military expectations for on-site modularity to support the widest array of mission areas.
