Manufacturing Engineer

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 Firestorm is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to lead manufacturing engineering efforts for products produced from xCell systems while directly supporting the assembly and integration of xCell units. The role is execution-focused and floor-oriented. The Manufacturing Engineer will drive continuous improvement across drone assemblies, cable/harness integration, and modular xCell builds. The ideal candidate understands drone assembly at a systems level and can translate engineering intent into efficient, repeatable manufacturing processes. This individual will operate at the intersection of product engineering, additive manufacturing, and expeditionary system deployment. What You'll Do

• Develop, implement, and optimize manufacturing processes supporting production of xCell systems and related subassemblies.
• Translate engineering designs into scalable, repeatable manufacturing processes that support low-rate and ramping production environments.
• Own DFM/DFA feedback loops with design engineering to improve manufacturability, assembly efficiency, and product reliability.
• Identify and eliminate inefficiencies in assembly workflows using Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Drive measurable reductions in rework, build errors, and cycle time through structured root cause analysis and process improvements.
• Support manufacturing floor builds of xCell units and associated subassemblies, providing hands-on engineering support during integration and assembly.
• Troubleshoot integration issues across mechanical, electrical, and industrial system interfaces during prototype and production builds.
• Improve repeatability, build quality, and production throughput of xCell manufacturing processes.
• Develop and maintain controlled manufacturing documentation including standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, visual assembly guides, and time studies.
• Support implementation of engineering changes through PLM systems and ensure manufacturing readiness for ECO releases.
• Partner with Quality to support process validation, nonconformance resolution, and corrective action implementation.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Quality, and Production teams to ensure manufacturing processes support program schedule, cost, and performance objectives.

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering
• 5+ years progressive manufacturing engineering experience in complex, mechanical or electrical assembly environments
• U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations, with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance
• Proven experience driving Continuous Improvement initiatives (i.e., Lean, 5S, RCA, Six Sigma or similar) in a production environment
• Experience developing and controlling manufacturing documentation (i.e., work instruction, SOPs, process flows)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with additive manufacturing environments
• Hands-on experience supporting drone or UAS assembly, including cable/harness integration
• Experience supporting defense, aerospace, or mission-critical hardware
• Background utilizing PLM systems and change control processes
• Experience operating under AS9100 or ISO9001 quality systems
• Familiarity with DoD manufacturing environments and regulatory requirements (i.e., FAR, DFARS, ITAR)
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, fast-paced operations in a dynamic environment

 Work Environment

• This role is based in San Diego, CA.
• This role does require frequent travel (up to 15%) to customer sites; deployments may be required.
• We welcome candidates who are local or open to relocating; relocation assistance is available and may be included in the offer package