Manufacturing Engineer

Firestorm•San Diego, CA

3h•$118,000 - $147,000•Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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)

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

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.

Benefits

We offer comprehensive medical, dental, and visions 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 November, & 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.