Software Engineering Technician

Firestorm•San Diego, CA

1d•$70,000 - $106,000•Onsite

About The Position

Firestorm Labs is seeking a driven and experienced Software Engineering Technician to join our Engineering Team. The Software Engineering Technician plays a critical hands-on role spanning aircraft test operations, fleet maintenance, and technical support. This individual will work closely with engineering, flight test, and customer success teams to ensure vehicles are mission-ready, software and hardware are current, and field and shop-level issues are resolved efficiently. The ideal candidate brings a blend of technical aptitude, operational discipline, and a willingness to get their hands on hardware.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field; may substitute equivalent hands-on experience in lieu of a degree
2+ years of experience in a technical support, fleet maintenance, field operations or related role
U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations & the ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense (DoD) security clearance
Basic familiarity with embedded Linux, electronics, and networking concepts
Strong attention to detail with ability to accurately collect, organize, and report operational data
Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Comfortable working collaboratively across engineering, operations, and customer-facing teams
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint) for data tracking, reporting, and communication

Nice To Haves

Experience with aircraft, avionics, or UAV, USV, and UxV systems
Background in aircraft or robotics build, integration, or maintenance
Hands-on experience maintaining asset management or fleet maintenance systems
Experience scripting in Python, Bash, or similar to automate tasks
Familiarity with Tableau or equivalent dashboard/analytics tools
Background in startup or high-growth environments

Responsibilities

Operate and maintain vehicle configuration and maintenance management systems
Maintain high-level and vehicle-specific dashboards tracking hardware, software, and payload configurations
Coordinate rollout of engineering directives, software updates, and hardware upgrades across the fleet
Manage and track preventative maintenance schedules, refits, and overhauls
Identify out-of-revision and at-risk components; develop recommendations to eliminate mission risk
Prepare reports tracking vehicle downtime, root causes, and corrective actions
Communicate fleet health, risks, and readiness status to internal leadership and stakeholders
Serve as first-line technical support, triaging issues using structured troubleshooting scripts and documentation
Apply working knowledge of embedded Linux, electronics, and networking to diagnose and resolve system-level problems
Collaborate with engineering to escalate unresolved issues and contribute findings to R&D decisions
Interact with internal teams and external stakeholders at various levels to coordinate support activities
Assist in development of project plans and manage necessary resources to ensure exceptional support for end-use customers
Perform low-speed taxi tests on aircraft using RC controls
Support full aircraft builds and submodule testing including engine tuning, control surface checks, and battery charging/management
Serve as a manufacturing quality control checkpoint, identifying mechanical and electrical issues before aircraft leave the production line
Assist skilled pilots during flight campaigns and field events
Support test event preparation locally and at remote customer or demonstration sites

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.