Mechanical Engineering Senior Manager

Firestorm•San Diego, CA

1d•$190,000 - $210,000•Onsite

About The Position

At Firestorm, we are building the future of expeditionary defense manufacturing and autonomous systems. Modern conflict has exposed a fundamental problem: the systems needed most by operators are often too expensive, too slow to produce, and too difficult to sustain at scale. Firestorm exists to change that. We develop mission-adaptable aerial systems and deployable manufacturing infrastructure designed to put capability directly into the hands of the warfighter. From modular unmanned aircraft to xCell — our deployable microfactory — our goal is to make defense systems rapidly deployable, adaptable, and producible at the point of need. We are looking for builders, operators, and problem-solvers who want to work on meaningful technology with real-world impact.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field (Master's degree preferred)
10+ years of mechanical engineering experience, with significant time in aerospace, defense, automotive, or comparable hardware-intensive industries
5+ years of direct people management experience, including hiring, performance management, and growing engineers from junior to senior levels
Demonstrated history of building and developing high-performing engineering teams—not just managing them
Deep technical credibility in mechanical design: structures, mechanisms, composites and/or metallic structures, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and DFM
Hands-on experience leading designs from concept through qualification and into production
Experience with change control, PLM systems (Arena, Windchill, Teamcenter, or equivalent), and configuration management at scale
Experience leading cross-functional integrated product teams (IPTs)
Strong communication skills—able to engage with engineers, executives, customers, and government stakeholders with equal effectiveness
Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic startup environment
U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance

Nice To Haves

Experience leading mechanical teams on sUAS, large aircraft, missile, or other SWaP-constrained airborne platforms
Experience scaling a hardware engineering team from prototype to rate production
Experience standing up or significantly improving change control / CCB processes
Track record of identifying and developing early-career engineers who have gone on to senior or principal-level roles

Responsibilities

Set the technical direction for mechanical engineering across Firestorm's aircraft platforms—structures, mechanisms, integration, packaging, and production hardware.
Own design standards, drawing standards, and engineering documentation practices; ensure consistency and quality across the team's output.
Drive change control discipline: lead the team's participation in CCB, ECR/ECO workflows, and configuration management across Arena PLM.
Lead and participate in design reviews (PDR, CDR, structural reviews, production readiness reviews); provide technical judgment on trade studies and architecture decisions.
Partner with manufacturing and quality on producibility, DFM/DFA, first-article inspection, and disposition of non-conformances.
Represent mechanical engineering in cross-functional IPTs, customer technical interchanges, and program reviews.
Lead, grow, and develop a multi-disciplinary mechanical engineering team spanning structures, mechanisms, GSE, and packaging.
Hire across all levels—from interns and new graduates to principal engineers—and build a pipeline of mechanical talent that scales with the company.
Mentor and develop early-career engineers: assign stretch work, run structured 1:1s, give honest feedback, and create clear paths from junior to senior contributor.
Coach senior engineers into technical leadership and IPT lead roles.
Set performance expectations, run performance reviews, and own compensation and leveling decisions for the team.
Build a team culture that values rigorous engineering, hands-on work, and personal ownership of outcomes.
Plan and resource mechanical engineering work across multiple programs; balance new development, sustaining engineering, and customer-driven changes.
Partner with program management to commit to schedules, identify risks, and deliver on milestones.
Drive productionization and transition from prototype to rate production across Firestorm's aircraft lines.
Support test and fielding events, including on-site presence for structural and integration test campaigns.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
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.