Principal Chief Engineer & System Architect

Firestorm•San Diego, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Build and lead a cross-product integration, test, and verification capability for complex hardware/software/UAS systems. Own the integration and verification approach, test architecture, evidence quality, and escalation of unresolved defects. Work with Chief Engineers, who remain accountable for product technical integrity and readiness recommendations. The role leads risk-based system integration, verification, and validation planning across 2–3 active product lines. It translates system requirements, critical interfaces, failure modes, and operational scenarios into executable test coverage and acceptance criteria, and coordinates integration sequencing, test readiness, qualification evidence, and verification traceability with Chief Engineers and functional teams. The position builds or strengthens SIL/HIL, automated regression, bench/lab integration, instrumentation, data capture, and representative field/flight-test practices as appropriate. It establishes repeatable test procedures, defect tracking, reproducibility standards, and configuration control for test articles and environments. The role leads test engineering personnel and coordinates distributed functional test contributors without duplicating existing testing teams. It reports objective verification results, open anomalies, residual risks, and coverage gaps, and independently escalates unresolved concerns. It drives failure analysis, root-cause investigation, corrective-action verification, and prevention of recurring integration escapes. It also develops metrics for late-found defects, verification coverage, regression effectiveness, test reliability, and time to close critical anomalies. The position is based at the company’s headquarters in San Diego, California, and requires on-site presence. Candidates may be local or open to relocating; relocation assistance may be included in the offer package where appropriate. The stated US salary range is $212,000–$247,000.

Requirements

10+ years in integration, test engineering, verification/validation, or systems test for complex hardware/software products.
Experience leading test engineers or multidisciplinary integration/test teams and building test capability.
Demonstrated ownership of test strategy and evidence for integrated systems through field or operational deployment.
Practical knowledge of HIL/SIL, instrumentation, automation, test design, requirements traceability, defect management, and root-cause analysis.
Ability to provide objective technical findings and constructively escalate verification gaps to engineering leadership.
Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain required U.S. government export-control authorizations.

Nice To Haves

UAS, aerospace, autonomy, embedded systems, defense, or robotics verification experience.
Experience with ground/flight testing, qualification, safety-critical interfaces, and operationally representative environments.
Experience building test infrastructure at a startup.
Familiarity with FMEA, fault trees, environmental/EMI qualification, and manufacturing acceptance testing.

Responsibilities

Lead risk-based system integration, verification, and validation planning across 2–3 active product lines.
Translate system requirements, critical interfaces, failure modes, and operational scenarios into executable test coverage and acceptance criteria.
Coordinate integration sequencing, test readiness, qualification evidence, and verification traceability with Chief Engineers and functional teams.
Build or strengthen SIL/HIL, automated regression, bench/lab integration, instrumentation, data capture, and representative field/flight-test practices as appropriate.
Establish repeatable test procedures, defect tracking, reproducibility standards, and configuration control for test articles and environments.
Lead test engineering personnel and coordinate distributed functional test contributors without duplicating existing testing teams.
Report objective verification results, open anomalies, residual risks, and coverage gaps; independently escalate unresolved concerns.
Drive failure analysis, root-cause investigation, corrective-action verification, and prevention of recurring integration escapes.
Develop metrics for late-found defects, verification coverage, regression effectiveness, test reliability, and time to close critical anomalies.
Map test assets, coverage gaps, recurring failures, and critical integration dependencies during the first 30 days.
Develop a risk-based verification plan for each product and establish an agreed test-readiness and evidence standard within 90 days.
Improve integration test repeatability, coverage of critical interfaces, and defect diagnosis speed within six months.
Reduce late-stage defects and recurring failures and provide objective, auditable readiness evidence for major milestones within 12 months.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans.
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan.
Equity grants for new hires.
Unlimited PTO.
Generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in November and December.
Generous parental leave.
Lifestyle Spending Account.
FSA, DCFSA, and HSA.
Hospital indemnity insurance.
Critical illness insurance.
Accident insurance.
Basic life/AD&D and short-term and long-term disability insurance, 100% covered by Firestorm.
Option to purchase additional life insurance for the employee and family.
Free 24/7 mental health resources, including therapy.
Free legal and financial support.