Sr. Staff Project Engineer, UAS Development

Firestorm•San Diego, CA

14h•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Staff Project Engineer, UAS Development leads and coordinates the technical development of unmanned aerial systems throughout the product lifecycle, from conceptual design and prototype development through first flight and productionization. The role applies strong engineering fundamentals and efficient technical program execution to deliver safe, reliable, innovative UAS platforms. Alongside individual program execution, this engineer develops repeatable functional processes and best practices for UAS program execution across the team. The position is based in San Diego, California. Candidates may be local or willing to relocate; relocation assistance may be included in the offer package where appropriate. Travel of up to 25% domestically within a calendar year is expected in support of field operations, integration events, customer support, and testing.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.
12 or more years of experience in aerospace development, including at least 3 years in a Project Engineer or equivalent technical program execution role.
Experience in aircraft architecture, airframe development, or aircraft software development.
Demonstrated experience building or substantially improving an engineering process, such as design review structure, configuration management, or verification planning.
Ability to work in fast-paced, evolving environments with rapid development cycles.
Deep understanding of first-order principles, demonstrated through hand calculations of statics and mechanics.
Proficiency in systems engineering and technical program execution methodologies.
Familiarity with CAD and simulation tools such as SolidWorks and MATLAB/Simulink.
Strong organizational, problem-solving, and cross-functional communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree.
Experience with flight controls, communications, or payload integration.
15 or more years of experience in aerospace development.
5 or more years of experience in unmanned aerial systems or autonomous platforms.
Experience mentoring or informally leading engineers, including without a formal management title.
Private pilot, home-built aircraft, or RC aircraft building experience.
Understanding of autonomy, AI/ML integration, or edge computing for UAS.
Familiarity with DoD, NASA, or commercial UAS programs.
Knowledge of UAS regulatory frameworks such as FAA Part 107 or COA, and airworthiness requirements.

Responsibilities

Manage technical maturity and ensure alignment with program timelines and budgets.
Lead and coordinate program reviews from conceptual design reviews through production readiness reviews.
Coordinate multidisciplinary teams spanning aero-performance, mechanical and electrical engineering, autonomy, software, flight testing, and payload integration.
Translate system specifications into derived requirements and manage system-level architecture and interfaces.
Provide peer reviews of technical deliverables, including stress analyses and flight test plans.
Ensure subsystems such as flight control, navigation, communications, and propulsion are integrated and tested effectively.
Map verification and validation methods to requirements.
Communicate technical risks to appropriate stakeholders.
Establish repeatable templates and entry/exit criteria for design and program reviews.
Build and maintain scalable configuration management and interface control practices.
Capture development-cycle lessons learned and turn them into process changes, checklists, or tools.
Work with engineering leadership to determine where formal process adds value without slowing iteration.
Interface with internal teams, suppliers, customers, and government agencies to align expectations and support project success.
Prepare and deliver project reports, risk assessments, and technical presentations to senior leadership and stakeholders.

Benefits

Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits.
Career growth opportunities.
Medical, dental, and vision plans.
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan.
Equity grants for new hires.
Unlimited PTO.
Company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in July and December.
Parental leave.
Lifestyle Spending Account.
FSA, DCFSA, and HSA.
Hospital indemnity insurance.
Critical illness insurance.
Accident insurance.
Basic life/AD&D and short- 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.