Director, Platform Architecture, Expeditionary Manufacturing

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. About the Role Firestorm is seeking a senior engineering leader to own the system-level architecture and platform standards for the xCell deployable manufacturing system. This role defines the technical envelope, modular interface standards, and architectural guardrails that govern platform development, ensuring each variant is structurally intentional, scalable, and aligned with the realities of deployable and expeditionary environments.
Reporting to the VP/GM, xCell, this role partners closely with the Product Manager, Expeditionary Manufacturing and the Director of Engineering, xCell. You will translate product intent into disciplined system architecture, guide engineering within clearly defined architectural boundaries, and ensure consistent adherence to platform standards as the system scales. The core focus of this role is establishing the modular interface standards, structural envelope, and utility architecture that enable xCell to evolve across variants and mission sets. You will ensure near-term design decisions lay the foundation for future capacity expansion, configurability, and integration of advanced manufacturing technologies as the platform matures.
The person in this role requires a platform-first mindset, strong technical judgment, and the ability to make principled trade-offs in complex, constraint-driven environments. As a leader, you will play a critical role in shaping xCell into a scalable, configurable manufacturing platform capable of supporting diverse mission applications.
 What You'll Do

• Define and maintain the system architecture for xCell, including structural chassis, utility backbone, and modular interface standards
• Establish interface standards across mechanical, power, data, thermal, and environmental systems to enable equipment interchangeability without bespoke integration
• Own platform-level constraints across all variants, including weight, dimensions, power, thermal capacity, transport, deployment, and structural performance
• Ensure compatibility and consistency across configurations in alignment with a modular platform strategy
• Define the architectural framework for integrating automation and robotics, including structural provisions, utilities, and load considerations
• Ensure current designs preserve future automation integration and avoid costly retrofits
• Develop and maintain roadmaps for integrating advanced manufacturing, automation, and robotics technologies
• Lead system-level trade studies for new variants and mission applications and determine when to extend existing architecture or establish new architectural branches
• Document and communicate trade-offs, risks, and system impacts to support executive and engineering decision-making
• Partner with Product Management to translate customer requirements into architectural implications and feasibility assessments
• Provide clear trade-offs when requirements challenge platform constraints, scalability, or modularity
• Define architectural boundaries for Engineering and ensure alignment through system reviews including SRR, PDR, and CDR
• Escalate major deviations from architectural standards and support resolution
• Evaluate make versus buy decisions for structural manufacturing as production scales
• Serve as the architecture lead with external partners including military, OEMs, and research institutions while maintaining platform integrity and IP ownership 

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
• 10+ years of experience in mechanical or systems engineering for complex physical systems 
• U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations, with the ability to obtai