Senior Process Engineer

Firestorm; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision plans

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

Equity grants

Unlimited PTO

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Firestorm, a defense technology company in San Diego, seeks a Senior/ mid-level Process Engineer to own cable and harness manufacturing from prototype through supplier transfers. You will develop processes for wire prep, crimp, termination, shields, and overmold, while owning test criteria, tooling, and documentation.

You’ll lead RCCA and drive supplier readiness and transfer optimization. The role demands hands-on process engineering with experience in crimp/termination, harness testing, DFx

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Mechanical, Industrial or Electrical Engineering or equivalent; 10+ years experience in lieu of a degree.
• US Person status per 22 CFR; ITAR compliance and related requirements.
• 5+ years of manufacturing or process engineering in cable/harness/EMI assembly.
• Experience in crimp and termination for rugged connectors and shield/braid terminations.
• Knowledge of IPC/WHMA-A-620 and J-STD-001 with on-floor application.
• Experience transferring a product from prototype to production and RCCA capability.

Responsibilities

• Develop cable and harness manufacturing processes for prototype and early production.
• Author manufacturing planning documents: WIs, formboard layouts, MBOMs, routings.
• Establish process controls: crimp height, pull-test sampling, calibration, ESD controls.
• Design, source, build, prove tooling and fixtures; formboards and fixtures.
• Own non-RF harness test; develop fixtures, adapters, test programs.
• Lead supplier process qualification, first article, audits, and transfer readiness.

Skills

Crimp & termination

Harness testing

Supplier transfer

Lean principles

DFM/DFT feedback

Education

Bachelors in Mechanical/Industrial/Electrical Engineering

Tools

PLM/ERP/MES systems

3D CAD tools

Job description

Cable and harness is where aircraft programs quietly lose schedule. The design is released, the wire list looks fine, and then the first build takes three times as long as anyone planned, the second one comes out different, and nobody can say exactly why. This role exists so that doesn't happen here.

As a Senior Process Engineer for cable and harness, you own the process from the first prototype bundle to a supplier building at rate. You'll develop and prove the process in-house during NPI — wire prep, crimp, termination, shield termination, backshells, overmold — then package it and stand it up at a harness supplier without losing the detail in the handoff. RF assemblies are supplier-built; you own the process and the technical oversight, and you review test criteria with engineering rather than building those yourself.

This is a bench job as much as a planning job. You'll be at the formboard during first builds finding out where your process was wrong, and you'll be at a supplier's facility making sure the way they run it matches the way you wrote it. You'll also own the test side: continuity, hipot, and insulation resistance for non-RF assemblies, including the fixtures and adapter cables that make it work.

The processes and tooling you build here travel. What you develop gets transferred, so write it for someone who wasn't in the room.

We're hiring at the mid or senior level depending on experience. Senior candidates will own supplier transfers end to end from day one. Mid-level candidates will own in-house process and test, and grow into transfer ownership.

What You’ll Do

• Develop cable and harness manufacturing processes for prototype and early production: wire prep, crimp, termination, shield and braid termination, backshell and strain relief, overmold and potting, breakout and routing
• Author manufacturing planning and documentation — work instructions, formboard layouts, wire lists, MBOMs, routings, and travelers — and keep them current as the configuration moves
• Establish and hold process controls: crimp height and pull-test sampling plans, tool verification and calibration intervals, cure and cycle parameters, and ESD controls
• Design, source, build, and prove out tooling and fixtures: formboards, crimp tooling and positioners, hold-downs, pull-test setups, and overmold tooling
• Own non-RF harness electrical test, including test programs, adapter cables, fixtures, and failure disposition with engineering
• Review RF cable assembly test criteria with engineering, flow them to suppliers, and assess incoming test data and CoCs against what was specified
• Build the manufacturing data package for source transfer and own the transition plan: timeline, tooling duplication or shipment, operator training, dual-source strategy, and the criteria that close out in-house build
• Lead supplier process qualification, first article, on-site audits, and build readiness reviews, and serve as the technical point of contact for supplier escapes, deviations, and changes. Hold suppliers to the documented process, not to a phone call
• Provide specific, actionable DFM and DFT feedback to electrical design: connector selection, wire and jacket callouts, service loops, breakout geometry, labeling, and harness segmentation for build and field repair
• Perform capacity analysis, takt and line balance, and floor layout for in-house prototype and pilot cells, and validate supplier capacity against rate demand
• Lead RCCA on process escapes and field returns, with effectiveness verified, whether the escape is ours or a supplier's. Drive improvement in yield, cycle time, scrap, and rework, and support MRB disposition
• Train technicians to the documented method and confirm they can execute it. Where the method is wrong, fix the method
• Uphold 5S, FOD and ESD control, and shop safety daily, and hold others to the same standard
• Perform other duties as directed

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Mechanical, Industrial or Electrical Engineering or equivalent degree. In lieu of a degree 10+ years of progressive relevant experience
• 'U.S. Person' as defined by 22 CFR
• 120.62 required due to ITAR regulations, which includes U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders), or protected individuals under asylee or refugee status
• 5+ years of manufacturing or process engineering, with hands-on depth in cable, harness, or electromechanical assembly
• Experience in crimp and termination processes and rugged connector families — circular MIL-spec, micro-D, D-sub, RF/coax — including shield and braid termination
• Working knowledge of IPC/WHMA-A-620 and J-STD-001, and the ability to apply and defend acceptance criteria on the floor
• Experience taking a product from prototype into production
• Harness test development for non-RF assemblies: continuity and hipot systems, fixture and adapter design, and test program creation
• Proven RCCA capability using structured problem solving, with evidence of preventive action rather than containment only
• Fluent with schematics, wire lists, interconnect diagrams, and mechanical drawings including GD&T
• Practical command of lean principles: standard work, line balancing, and cell layout
• Familiarity with PLM, ERP, and MES systems and the handoff between them
• Comfortable working in the gap between engineering and production, able to hold a technical position with engineers while staying credible with technicians

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience transferring a process to an external supplier: data package development, process qualification, and first article at source
• Ownership of a product through a full production ramp, including a capacity model, line layout, or rate readiness plan you personally built
• Active Secret clearance
• Hands‑on RF cable assembly or RF test experience, or working knowledge of RF test methods sufficient to evaluate supplier data
• Mixed‑commodity background: cable plus mechanical or electronics assembly
• UAV, experimental aircraft, or low‑volume/high‑mix aerospace experience, ideally at a company moving from prototype to rate
• Experience with automated wire process
• eng equipment and harness design tools with 3D‑to‑formboard flattening
• Overmolding, potting, and environmental sealing process development
• A continuous improvement project with quantified results, or formal Lean or Six Sigma training
• AS9100 environment, FAI/AS9102, and supplier quality experience
• IPC/WHMA-A-620 CIS or CIT certification
• CAD proficiency sufficient to model and detail tooling

Who We Are

At Firestorm, we’re building toward a future defined by incontestable defense logistics. That means equipping warfighters with mission‑critical capabilities at the point of need. Not in months, not from a depot halfway around the world, but now, in the field, on demand.

We’re a VC‑backed defense technology company pioneering an expeditionary manufacturing ecosystem that produces and sustains modular, mission‑adaptable unmanned systems, parts and components for repair and sustainment, and the software to transform point solutions into a network of strategic assets.

We’re building a team of engineers, operators, and problem‑solvers who believe the future of deterrence cannot rely only on expensive, exquisite platforms made in centralized factories. We build and field affordable systems using distributed production capabilities at the edge. If you want to solve challenging problems that will reshape the future of defense, you’re in the right place.

Work Environment

• Position is working onsite at our headquarters 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.
• Requires sitting and standing for extended periods throughout the workday on the production floor
• Capable of lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Exposure to moderate noise, temperature variation, and typical shop‑floor conditions
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided and must be worn as required

This position typically operates in a standard office setting and manufacturing environment. This role requires use of standard office equipment and 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 and move about regularly throughout the day. Must have manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment.

Compensation

• Base salary: $ 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 holiday hiatuses 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 [e-mail] so we can provide the support you need.