Be an Early Applicant
Modular Unmanned Autonomous Systems | Designed for the Warfighter, Built at the Edge.
The Role
The VP, People & Organizational Effectiveness will partner with executive leadership to enhance organizational design, leadership capabilities, and scalable people systems to support growth while maintaining agility and culture.
Summary Generated by Built In
Firestorm is hiring a VP, People & Organizational Effectiveness who will help Firestorm scale through its next stage of growth. As VP, People & Organizational Effectiveness, you will serve as a strategic partner to the COO and executive leadership team, helping build scalable people systems, strengthen leadership capability, improve organizational effectiveness, and support the company’s growth without losing agility, accountability, or culture.
This is not a traditional transactional HR leadership role. You combine strong HR
operational leadership with organizational design, executive partnership, leadership
development, communication sophistication, and business acumen. You are comfortable operating fluidly between:
- Strategy & Execution
- Leadership & Operations
- Organizational Design & Practical Implementation
- People Priorities & Business Realities
You help organizations scale thoughtfully — building clarity, leadership capability,
communication discipline, and operational maturity without creating unnecessary
bureaucracy.
What You’ll Do
Executive Partnership & Organizational Leadership
- Serve as a trusted advisor to the COO and executive leadership team
- Provide counsel on organizational design, workforce strategy, leadership effectiveness, and organizational scaling
- Coach leaders through growth, change, and organizational challenges
- Strengthen executive alignment, accountability, and communication effectiveness
- Help evolve the organization from founder-driven execution to scalable operational leadership
Organizational Effectiveness & Design
- Design scalable organizational structures, decision-making frameworks, and operating rhythms
- Improve cross-functional coordination and organizational clarity
- Identify organizational friction points and scaling risks before they become larger operational issues
- Build systems that support growth while preserving entrepreneurial agility
- Support role clarity, accountability, and leadership consistency across the organization
Culture, Communication & Leadership Development
- Serve as a steward of company culture and leadership behavior
- Translate mission, vision, and values into practical organizational behaviors and systems
- Improve communication, transparency, and trust across the organization
- Build leadership capability and management effectiveness at all levels
- Design and support leadership development initiatives and organizational learning
Talent Strategy & Workforce Planning
- Partner with leadership on workforce planning and organizational structure
- Build scalable recruiting and talent acquisition approaches aligned with business growth
- Strengthen hiring quality, leadership pipeline development, and succession planning
- Help ensure the organization attracts, develops, and retains high-performing talent
- Establish scalable performance management and talent review processes
HR Operations, Infrastructure & Organizational Risk
- Oversee employee relations, compliance, compensation, performance management, and HR systems
- Build scalable HR operational infrastructure appropriate for a rapidly growing organization
- Partner with legal counsel on employment matters, investigations, and organizational risk
- Ensure operational discipline without creating unnecessary bureaucracy
- Guide compensation philosophy, organizational leveling, and total rewards strategy
- Leverage HR technology, automation, AI-enabled tools, and people analytics to support scalable operations, workforce insights, and organizational effectiveness
Perform other duties as needed
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or related field
- U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations
- 12+ years of progressive HR, People Operations, Organizational Development, or related leadership experience
- 3+ years operating at the Senior Director, VP, or equivalent strategic leadership level
- Experience partnering directly with executive leadership teams in high-growth, scaling, or rapidly evolving organizations
- Experience building and scaling HR infrastructure, systems, and organizational processes
- Experience implementing enterprise-wide HR programs, including one or more of the following: payroll and compliance, performance and talent management, learning and development, employee relations, compensation, onboarding, or employee self-service (ESS) systems
- Experience supporting employee relations, organizational effectiveness, talent strategy, compensation, performance management, and leadership advisory functions
- Experience influencing organizational communication, leadership alignment, and workplace culture initiatives
- Experience balancing organizational needs, workforce considerations, and operational business objectives in fast-paced environments
- Experience operating effectively in ambiguous, growth-oriented, or rapidly changing business environments
- Experience utilizing HRIS, ATS, AI-enabled tools, people analytics, and other scalable people systems and technologies
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in venture-backed, defense, aerospace, manufacturing, or high-growth technology environments
- Experience supporting organizations through rapid scaling, organizational redesign, or transformation
- Experience in organizational development, executive coaching, leadership facilitation, or organizational effectiveness
- Experience working with founders and entrepreneurial leadership teams
- Experience with OFCCP, multi-state employment environments, and scaling compliance infrastructure
- SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or related executive HR certification
- Master’s degree or advanced education in HR, Organizational Development, Business, Leadership, or related discipline
Work Environment
- Position works 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.
- Open to travel up to 5% if needed
Compensation
- Base salary: $210,000 - $250,000, commensurate with experience
- Meaningful equity participation in a growth-stage 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 business needs evolve.
Who We Are
At Firestorm, we are building the future of expeditionary defense manufacturing and autonomous systems.
Modern conflict has exposed a fundamental problem: the systems needed most by operators are often too expensive, too slow to produce, and too difficult to sustain at scale. Firestorm exists to change that.
We develop mission-adaptable aerial systems and deployable manufacturing infrastructure designed to put capability directly into the hands of the warfighter. From modular unmanned aircraft to xCell -- our deployable microfactory -- our goal is to make defense systems rapidly deployable, adaptable, and producible at the point of need.
Backed by leading investors across defense, aerospace, and technology, Firestorm is redefining how defense capability is built, fielded, and sustained in contested environments.
We are looking for builders, operators, and problem-solvers who want to work on meaningful technology with real-world impact.
Why Firestorm
Firestorm is building the future of contested logistics and small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). We move quickly, solve difficult operational problems, and build technology designed to support real-world mission execution.
If you are someone who wants to help build an organization capable of scaling at a high
level without losing speed, culture, or sense of mission, this is an opportunity for you to
help shape not only the HR function — but the organization itself.
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 November, & 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 Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or related field
- 12+ years of progressive HR, People Operations, Organizational Development, or related leadership experience
- 3+ years operating at the Senior Director, VP, or equivalent strategic leadership level
- Experience partnering directly with executive leadership teams in high-growth, scaling, or rapidly evolving organizations
- Experience building and scaling HR infrastructure, systems, and organizational processes
- Experience implementing enterprise-wide HR programs such as payroll and compliance, performance management, learning and development
- Experience supporting employee relations, organizational effectiveness, talent strategy, compensation, performance management
- Experience influencing organizational communication and leadership alignment
- Experience operating effectively in ambiguous, growth-oriented, or rapidly changing business environments
- Experience utilizing HR technology and people analytics
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
Firestorm Insights
Am I A Good Fit?
Get Personalized Job Insights.
Our AI-powered fit analysis compares your resume with a job listing so you know if your skills & experience align.
Success! Refresh the page to see how your skills align with this role.
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.
