Industrial/Manufacturing Engineer (Contactor)

Firestorm; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 76,000 - 99,000; Full time

Job summary

Firestorm is seeking a hands-on Industrial/Manufacturing Engineer on a contract basis to support day-to-day manufacturing as we scale prototype and low-rate production. You will be embedded with the manufacturing engineering team to deliver floor layouts, standards, and Lean infrastructure that keep production organized and efficient.

You will turn a fast-moving production environment into standardized, well‑documented workflows and you’ll see your work on the floor the same week you build it.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial, Manufacturing, or Mechanical Engineering required.
• 2+ years of industrial or manufacturing engineering hands-on experience in a production environment.
• Experience in AutoCAD for facility/workcell layout.
• Experience with time studies and work measurement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain facility, work cell, and production floor layouts in AutoCAD—equipment placement, material flow, and space planning.
• Conduct time studies and work measurement to establish labor standards, identify bottlenecks, and support line balancing.
• Author standard work sheets and standardized work documentation, capturing walk time against takt.
• Lead Lean initiatives—5S, shadow boards, visual management across work centers.
• Design and optimize hardware kitting processes—kit layouts, point-of-use presentation, staging to support assembly flow.
• Establish and maintain vendor-managed inventory (VMI) programs with Kanban sizing and replenishment triggers.
• Design point-of-use tooling and workstation layouts for repeatability and ergonomics.
• Analyze cycle time, throughput, and capacity to drive continuous improvement and Kaizen.
• Partner with production, quality, and engineering for on‑the‑floor process improvements.

Skills

AutoCAD

Time studies

Lean tools

Standard work

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial/Manufacturing/Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Firestorm is looking to hire a hands‑on Industrial / Manufacturing Engineer on a contract basis to support day‑to‑day manufacturing engineering as we scale prototype and low‑rate production. This is a floor‑focused role embedded with the manufacturing engineering team, delivering the layouts, standards, and Lean infrastructure that keep production organized, repeatable, and efficient — including how hardware is kitted, staged, and replenished at the line. You’ll turn a fast‑moving production environment into standardized, well‑documented workflows — and you’ll see your work on the floor the same week you build it.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and maintain facility, work cell, and production floor layouts in AutoCAD — equipment placement, material flow, and space planning
• Conduct time studies and work measurement to establish labor standards, identify bottlenecks, and support line balancing
• Author standard work combination sheets and standardized work documentation, capturing manual, machine, and walk time against takt
• Lead and support Lean initiatives — 5S implementation, shadow board design and build, and visual management across work centers
• Design and optimize hardware kitting processes — kit layouts, point-of-use presentation, and staging to support assembly flow and reduce line-side searching
• Establish and maintain vendor‑managed inventory (VMI) programs for hardware and consumables — bin/Kanban sizing, min/max and replenishment triggers, and point‑of‑use stocking in coordination with supply chain and suppliers
• Design point‑of‑use tooling and hardware organization and workstation layouts for repeatability, ergonomics, and error‑proofing
• Analyze cycle time, throughput, and capacity data to drive continuous improvement and Kaizen activity
• Partner with production, quality, and engineering to implement process improvements on the floor
• Maintain documentation with clear revision control
• Additional task to the assigns as required

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial, Manufacturing, or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent
• U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations & the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) security clearance.
• 2+ years of industrial or manufacturing engineering hands‑on‑experience in a production environment
• Experience in AutoCAD for facility and workcell layout
• Experience with time studies and work measurement
• Experience authoring standard work / standardized work combination sheets
• Working knowledge of Lean tools: 5S, visual management, shadow boards, Kaizen
• Strong attention to detail and willingness to spend significant time on the production floor

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with kitting, line‑side replenishment, or vendor‑managed inventory (VMI) / Kanban systems
• Experience with time‑study or standard‑work software tools

About Firestorm

Firestorm is a California‑headquartered defense‑tech company building expeditionary advanced manufacturing systems (xCell), Group 1‑3 modular Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (Tempest), and Group 1 quadcopter Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (Squall, produced via the xCell manufacturing platform). We are 150 employees, Series B, and growing the Mission Success function from the ground up to deliver white‑glove fielding, sustainment, and customer success for the operators who decide vendor credibility in the first 72 hours of operational use. Our Mission Success function is Warfighter First, Led by Warfighters — the team that fields the system is the team that fielded systems like it.

Work Environment

• Position is working On‑site at our San Diego, CA Headquarters
• Requires standing and walking for extended periods, frequently moving across the production floor
• Exposure to moderate noise, temperature variation, and typical shop‑floor conditions
• PPE is provided and must be worn as required

Compensation

Base salary: $55-72/hr. base, commensurate with experience

The posted salary range reflects an estimate based on a variety of compensation factors, including but not limited to relevant experience, education, certificates, 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.

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, and 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 [e-mail] so we can provide the support you need.