Senior Systems Engineer, Metal Manufacturing

Firestorm; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 145,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

Unlimited PTO

Generous company holiday calendar

Equity grants for new hires

Mental Health Resources including free therapy access

Job summary

Firestorm in San Diego is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer focused on innovative metal manufacturing solutions. Candidates should have over 7 years of hands-on hardware development experience and deep expertise in both additive and subtractive manufacturing processes. This is an opportunity to drive significant impact in a defense technology company that values autonomy and creativity in engineering.

Successful candidates will tackle complex engineering challenges, guiding projects from concept to production while working closely within a collaborative team.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of hands-on hardware development experience — concept through production.
• Experience in metal additive manufacturing with a strong powder-bed fusion background.
• Proficiency in defining manufacturing processes for complex systems.

Responsibilities

• Guide the engineering effort to develop, prototype, and productionize metal manufacturing capability.
• Define and establish processes, parameters, and quality criteria for production.
• Lead the technical development of new products across manufacturing variants.

Skills

Hands-on hardware development

Metal additive manufacturing

CNC machining

Systems engineering mindset

CAD proficiency (SolidWorks preferred)

Education

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

Tools

CAD software (SolidWorks preferred)

PLM tools

Job description

Firestorm is looking for a Senior Systems Engineer, Metal Manufacturing who will be part of a team that will build new variants of a fielded platform — including a metal manufacturing capability that doesn't exist anywhere else in this form — and we need an engineer who wants to own hard problems from first principles through production (this is not a maintenance role). You have a senior engineering background with deep hands‑on experience in metal additive and subtractive manufacturing, and you've taken complex hardware from concept to fielded product.

You'll work as a senior individual contributor with real autonomy, but you also understand the value of input from your teammates. You'll shape how we approach metal manufacturing engineering challenges at a company that is still early enough for your fingerprints to matter. If you want to spend your time in a large program office working minutiae and moving PowerPoints, this isn't the right place. If you want to build things that matter, that have near‑term impact, and work with a tight team that acts with both urgency and rigor — we should talk.

What You’ll Own

• Metal manufacturing development — guide the engineering effort to define, develop, prototype, and productionize xCell's metal manufacturing capability; drive the process from trade studies through fielded solution
• Process definition — establish the manufacturing processes, parameters, and quality criteria that will govern metal part production in a deployed environment; you know what good looks like and can define it for others
• New product development — define the problem, run trade studies, establish constraints, iterate design, prototype, and drive to production across metal manufacturing variants
• Systems‑level thinking — xCell is an integrated system and the metal manufacturing capability has to work within it; you see the whole picture across mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, and software interfaces
• Post‑processing and finishing — own the full part journey from raw feedstock through final part, including CNC machining, finishing operations, and inspection; you understand that additive is only part of the story
• Sustaining engineering — when something breaks in the field or fails to deliver as advertised, you help drive solutions with the xCell engineering team
• Technical leadership — you'll be a senior anchor on a talented, growing team; you elevate the engineers around you without being asked to

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering or related field. In lieu of a degree 10+ years of progressive relative experience in the engineering field.
• U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations, with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.
• 7+ years of hands‑on hardware development experience — concept through production, not just analysis.
• Deep experience in metal additive manufacturing — strong powder‑bed fusion background considered if other attributes are compelling.
• Hands‑on CNC machining experience — you understand the subtractive side of the equation and how it integrates with additive processes to get to a final part.
• Systems engineering mindset — you can hold requirements, tradeoffs, and interfaces in your head simultaneously.
• Proficiency with CAD (SolidWorks preferred) and PLM tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with directed energy deposition (DED), wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), or cold spray experience.
• Experience in defense, aerospace, naval, medical, or automotive applications — we care more about the depth of your metal manufacturing experience than the sector it came from.
• High ownership mentality — you close loops, you don't wait to be told, and you hold yourself and others to a high standard.
• Additional metal forming, cutting, or finishing process experience beyond CNC.
• Familiarity with metal part qualification and inspection in regulated or defense environments.
• Experience defining and documenting manufacturing processes from scratch.

About Firestorm

Firestorm is a defense technology company solving one of the hardest logistics problems in modern warfare — how do you manufacture what you need, when you need it, and where you need it without support from traditional supply chains? Our answer is xCell: containerized, deployable manufacturing units built around advanced additive and traditional manufacturing that go where warfighters go. We're roughly 150 people, headquartered in San Diego, and we're past concept — xCell systems are in the field in both OCONUS and CONUS today and our development pipeline is aggressive.

Why This Role, Why Now

xCell is at an inflection point. We have a fielded product, real customers, and an ambitious roadmap that includes metal manufacturing capabilities that will push the boundaries of what's possible in a deployed environment. The engineer who takes this role will define how we get there — with the autonomy to shape the approach and a team behind them that takes the work seriously. Relocation assistance available for the right candidate.

Work Environment

• Based 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 up to 10% for customer sites and events.

This position typically operates in a standard office setting and manufacturing environment. This role requires use of standard office equipment and may involve exposure to loud noise, heat, cold, dust, or chemicals (with PPE). 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, climb, and move about regularly throughout the day. Must have manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment.

Compensation

• Base salary: $145,000 - $160,000 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

• We offer comprehensive medical, dental, and vision 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 and 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. Firestorm encourages 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].