Senior Engineering Manager - Crucible

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.

We are looking for builders, operators, and problem-solvers who want to work on meaningful technology with real-world impact.

About the Role

Firestorm builds uncrewed aircraft and the manufacturing network that produces them: full-capability plants, deployable xCell edge factories, and forward-deployed sites that stand up production near the point of need.

Crucible is the software that runs that network. It plans and executes production across factories that don't look alike, using supply that isn't guaranteed to arrive. It runs in the cloud, inside a factory, and air-gapped in classified environments, with consistent behavior across all three.

Most of what Crucible does has no off-the-shelf solution. Planning has to work across unlike factories and constrained supply. The platform has to operate without cloud or internet access and reconcile correctly when connectivity returns. Export control and audit traceability have to be enforced in the software and data model. The system also has to remain product-agnostic as our aircraft and factories change. The result is a rare combination of distributed systems, manufacturing software, production planning, and real-world operations.

We are hiring a Senior Engineering Manager to lead the team building Crucible. This is a hands-on leadership role with significant ownership: Crucible is early enough that major product and technical decisions are still being made, but mature enough that the software is already being used to run real production. You'll work closely with leadership in Software, Manufacturing, and Product as we scale the Crucible platform and the manufacturing network it serves.

What You’ll Do

• Own Crucible engineering - Lead the team responsible for building and operating Crucible, with ownership of execution, technical quality, development practices, and delivery.
• Stay close to the software - Work with the team on design and implementation, review critical code and technical decisions, and help ship production software.
• Drive roadmap execution -Turn capability needs into scoped, sequenced, shippable work and manage the tradeoffs along the way.
• Partner on architecture - Work with software leadership and architecture to evolve Crucible's system design, stack, interfaces, and deployment model.
• Own system integrations - Build the interfaces between Crucible and PLM, ERP, quality, test, and other production systems while keeping clear boundaries around what Crucible owns.
• Build for the factory floor — Work directly with manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and xCell teams, turn operational problems into product capabilities.
• Grow the team — Hire, develop, and hold engineers to a high technical and execution standard.

Required Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance
• 8+ years building and shipping software, including production systems you materially designed or built
• 3+ years leading software engineering teams with a strong track record of delivery
• Strong TypeScript and React, plus experience with at least one backend language
• Strong fundamentals in relational data modeling, APIs, services, and distributed systems
• Experience building full-stack software from problem definition through deployment and operation
• Experience building software around complex operational workflows, physical systems, or real-world constraints
• Strong written and verbal communication across engineering, operations, and customer environments
• Demonstrated ability to hold a high technical and execution bar for yourself and your team
• Willingness to spend real time on the factory floor with the people using what you build.
• U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with MES, MRP/ERP, or PLM systems (Arena, Teamcenter, SAP, Ignition, or equivalent)
• Supply chain planning or operations research background
• Aerospace, defense, UAS, automotive, or medical device manufacturing
• Experience with Air-gapped, edge, or intermittently connected software deployments

Work Environment

• This role is based in San Diego, CA.
• We welcome candidates who are local or open to relocating; relocation assistance is available and may be included in the offer package where appropriate.

Compensation

US Salary Range: $175,000 – $220,000 USD

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 careers@launchfirestorm.com so we can provide the support you need.