Staff Electrical Engineer

Firestorm; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Firestorm is seeking a Staff Electrical Engineer to lead avionics hardware development for Group 2 UAS in a hands-on, leadership role. You will drive architecture, schematic design, PCB bring-up, and rigorous validation across cross-functional teams to deliver safe, manufacturable systems.

This position requires deep experience in avionics, electronics, and defense programs, with a focus on first-principles reasoning and problem solving.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead avionics electrical systems architecture and development.
• Hands-on schematic, PCB bring-up, integration, testing.
• Lead aircraft-level integration and root-cause investigations.
• Define system-level verification and validation.
• Collaborate across firmware, software, mechanical, thermal, test, reliability, manufacturing, supply chain, and operations.
• Review engineering documentation, hardware changes, test procedures, and compliance.
• Work with suppliers on component selection and production readiness.
• Mentor the broader team in engineering practices.

Skills

Electrical design

Project leadership

Problem solving

Hardware troubleshooting

Team leadership

First principles

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

DO-254

MIL-STD-810

PCB layout tools

Job description

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.

About the Role

As a Staff Electrical Engineer, you will lead the development of avionics hardware for Group 2 UAS across multiple launch modalities, from architecture and design through validation, production, and fleet support. You will work across electrical, mechanical, firmware, software, test, reliability, manufacturing, supply chain, and operations to deliver safe, robust, and manufacturable systems. This is a hands‑on technical leadership role where you will drive key technical decisions, shape engineering processes, and guide complex hardware development across programs.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the architecture, design, and development of avionics electrical systems for Group 2 UAS across multiple launch modalities
• Remain hands‑on through schematic design, PCB development, bring‑up, integration, testing, troubleshooting, and design iteration
• Lead aircraft‑level integration, root‑cause investigations, and corrective actions across avionics, payloads, flight controls, propulsion, and other aircraft subsystems
• Define and execute system‑level verification and validation to ensure hardware meets performance, safety, and reliability requirements
• Partner across firmware, software, mechanical, thermal, test, reliability, manufacturing, supply chain, operations, and program teams to resolve complex technical challenges
• Serve as a technical point of contact for design reviews, system integration, flight test, suppliers, customers, and other key stakeholders
• Own and review engineering documentation, hardware changes, test procedures, configuration records, and compliance with applicable standards and company processes
• Work with suppliers on component selection, technical evaluation, availability, quality, and production readiness
• Identify technical risks, drive key engineering tradeoffs, improve engineering processes, and provide technical guidance and mentorship to the broader team

Required Qualifications

• Education:
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or a related technical field
• Experience:
• 10+ years in electrical engineering, with a focus on avionics, UAV systems, or similar industries
• Technical Expertise:
• Strong hands‑on knowledge of analog and digital circuit design, PCB design, and avionics systems
• Project Management:
• Ability to oversee the technical aspects of projects from concept to delivery, ensuring that deadlines and specifications are met
• Leadership Skills:
• Experience leading technical projects or small teams in an engineering environment
• Strong problem‑solving skills with a focus on delivering innovative solutions
• Hands‑on experience developing and validating safety‑critical electromechanical systems
• A strong electrical engineering foundation and the ability to reason from first principles about hardware behavior and failure
• U.S. Person status (Citizen or Permanent Resident) required due to ITAR regulations

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with developing for a safety‑critical environment (human in the loop)
• Experience working on products used in extreme environments (automotive, aerospace, defense, etc.)
• Knowledge of software protocols for embedded development, including use of timers, interrupts, hardware peripherals such as SPI controllers and ADCs
• Familiarity with avionics design standards like DO-254, MIL-STD-810, and others
• Solid understanding of schematic design and PCB layout for analog, digital, RF, and power circuits
• Demonstrated ownership and practical problem‑solving ability, including driving technically complex issues through resolution

Compensation

• Base salary: $165,000 - $190,000
• Equity: Meaningful equity grant in a growth‑stage defense technology company