Director of Supply Chain & Logistics

Firestorm; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 185,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grant

Job summary

Firestorm is seeking a Director of Supply Chain & Logistics to own sourcing, planning, and delivery for complex electromechanical products. The role combines hands‑on leadership with strategic development to scale a growing hardware operation in San Diego, CA.

You will lead a small team, manage large BOMs, optimize supplier and logistics performance, and collaborate across engineering, manufacturing, and finance to align supply strategy with product roadmaps.

Qualifications

• 10–15 years of progressive supply chain and operations experience, including direct leadership at manager/director level.
• Experience with large electromechanical BOMs and sourcing mechanical/structural assemblies, PCBA, & cables.
• Proven track record of building operations from the ground up with scalable processes and systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead as a player‑coach, mentoring a small team while solving problems hands‑on.
• Own the electromechanical supply chain from qualification to delivery.
• Identify and prevent bottlenecks; engage early to resolve issues before crises.
• Build scalable processes, systems, supplier relationships, and metrics.

Skills

Supply chain leadership

Global sourcing

ERP/MRP systems

Logistics management

Supplier relationships

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's in supply chain/engineering

APICS/CPIM or CPSM certifications

Tools

MRP/ERP systems

Job description

We are a growing hardware company building complex electromechanical products, and we are scaling fast. We are looking for a Director of Supply Chain & Logistics to take ownership of how we source, plan, build, and deliver — and to build the operational backbone that lets us scale without breaking.

This is a true player‑coach role. You will lead and steady a small, hardworking team while staying deeply hands‑on yourself: getting into the details, anticipating bottlenecks before they hit, and proactively engaging to solve problems before they become crises. You will balance the tactical, day‑to‑day firefighting with the strategic work of charting the long‑term course for our supply chain organization. If you are energized by building operations from the ground up — and by the satisfaction of watching a scrappy team mature into a scalable one — this role is for you.

What You’ll Do

• Lead as a player‑coach. Roll up your sleeves and solve problems directly while mentoring and developing a small team. Bring steady, calm leadership that helps the team scale under pressure.
• Own the electromechanical supply chain. Manage sourcing and supply for large, complex electromechanical BOMs — mechanical and structural assemblies, PCBAs, cable assemblies, and related components — from qualification through delivery.
• Anticipate and prevent bottlenecks. Proactively identify supply, capacity, and logistics risks. Engage early and drive resolution before issues escalated into schedule‑ or crisis‑level problems.
• Build operations from the ground up. Establish the processes, systems, supplier relationships, and metrics needed to take a small operation and make it scalable, repeatable, and resilient.
• Manage up effectively. Communicate clearly and honestly with executive leadership — where the pain points are, what is being done to address them, and what the realistic timeline looks like. No surprises.
• Balance tactical and strategic. Solve the day‑to‑day problems that keep production moving while simultaneously charting the long‑term strategy and growth plan for the supply chain organization.
• Drive supplier and logistics performance. Develop and manage supplier relationships, negotiate terms, and build the inbound/outbound logistics practices that support reliable, cost‑effective delivery.
• Assist in the development of proprietary MRP/ERP system. Work with a cross‑functional team to develop and implement a proprietary MRP/ERP system that will act as the backbone of our manufacturing/supply chain network
• Partner cross‑functionally. Work closely with engineering, manufacturing, program management, and finance to align supply strategy with product roadmaps and business goals.

What You Bring

• 10–15 years of progressive supply chain and operations experience, including direct leadership at the manager or director level.
• Deep familiarity with large electromechanical or complex BOM structures and hands‑on experience sourcing mechanical/structural assemblies, PCBAs, cable assemblies, and similar components.
• A proven track record of building operations from the bottom up — you have stood up processes and systems, not just run existing ones.
• Experience scaling a small team through a period of rapid growth, with the steady leadership to keep it grounded.
• Experience in global supply chain within the INDOPACOM or Asian markets
• Strong upward management and communication skills — you can surface problems, plans, and timelines to executives with clarity and credibility.
• A genuine player‑coach mindset: comfortable being hands‑on in the details while also leading, mentoring, and thinking strategically.
• The ability to operate calmly under pressure and to prioritize effectively in a fast‑moving, ambiguous environment.
• Hands on experience with the implementation of proprietary/custom built MRP/ERP systems
• Experience introducing new products from prototype through volume production (NPI).
• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, operations, engineering, or a related field (or equivalent hands‑on experience). APICS/CPIM, CPSM, or similar certifications a plus.

Nice to Have

• Experience in a hardware startup or scale‑up environment.

Why Join Us

You will have real ownership and the opportunity to shape the supply chain organization from the ground up during a pivotal growth stage. You will work alongside a passionate, hands‑on team building genuinely complex and meaningful hardware — and you will see the direct impact of your leadership as the operation matures around you.

• The position is working 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 between 25% - 40% if needed

Who We Are

At Firestorm, we’re on a mission to revolutionize how defense solutions are designed and delivered. Our goal is to empower U.S. ally nations to effectively deter aggressors—regardless of their defense budget—through innovative, cost‑efficient technologies. We call this vision “democratized deterrence.” As a VC‑backed company at the intersection of defense and Silicon Valley, we’re pioneering the development of mission‑adaptable aerial vehicles that put power back into the hands of operators. By prioritizing operator effectiveness, we’re pioneering a new era of aerial vehicle design. We aim to upend the traditional defense procurement model by delivering world‑class capabilities at a fraction of the usual cost. Join us at Firestorm as we redefine defense procurement, making cutting‑edge technology accessible to all at a fraction of the cost.

Compensation

• Base salary: $185,000 - $220,000 base, commensurate with experience
• Equity: Meaningful equity grant in a growth‑stage defense technology company