Senior Systems Engineer, Deployable Manufacturing

Firestorm; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision plans

401(k) with match

Equity grant

Unlimited PTO

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Firestorm seeks a Staff Systems Engineer to own the end-to-end development of a deployable metal manufacturing cell. You’ll take capital equipment from concept through production, ensuring the unit ships, sets up, and operates reliably in field conditions.

You’ll lead system integration, controls, and cross-functional design reviews with autonomy and a sense of urgency, shaping a rugged, field-ready solution at a fast-moving defense technology company based in San Diego.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering, or related field; or 10+ years of progressive relevant experience.
• U.S. citizenship due to ITAR regulations, with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance
• 7+ years of hands-on hardware development experience, from concept through production
• Experience integrating capital equipment or complex machinery into a transportable or ruggedized package — containerized, shipboard, mobile, trailer, or shelter-based systems
• Demonstrated ownership through a formal gate-based development cycle; responsible engineer at a PDR/CDR or equivalent
• Hands-on commissioning experience: bring a machine up, diagnose, fix
• Hands-on experience with machining or metal fabrication
• Systems engineering mindset: manage requirements, tradeoffs, interfaces
• Proficiency with CAD (SolidWorks preferred) and PLM tools

Responsibilities

• Lead the integration of the metal manufacturing cell as a system, including container architecture and layout, structural and thermal design, power distribution, gas supply, and filtration.
• Coordinate motion control, interlocks, safety circuits, and machine interfaces across suppliers and software team.
• Own drawings, interface definitions, verification plans for PDR/CDR/FDR gates.
• Stand the cell up, run factory and site acceptance testing, prove transport and field survivability.
• Work with supplier metal deposition, motion, container, and other equipment partners to stay aligned with scope.
• Integrate full part journey from raw feedstock through final part, including CNC and finishing operations.
• Drive solutions for field failures; be a senior anchor and elevate team members.
• Collaborate across xCell engineering, software, quality, manufacturing, and suppliers.

Skills

Systems engineering mindset

CAD (SolidWorks)

PLM tools

Hands-on hardware development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering, or related field

Tools

CAD (SolidWorks)

PLM tools

Job description

Firestorm seeks a Staff Systems Engineer to own the end-to-end development of a deployable metal manufacturing cell. You’ll take capital equipment from concept through production, ensuring the unit ships, sets up, and operates reliably in field conditions.

You’ll lead system integration, controls, and cross-functional design reviews with autonomy and a sense of urgency, shaping a rugged, field-ready solution at a fast-moving defense technology company based in San Diego.