Senior Systems Engineer, Metal Manufacturing

Firestorm
Firestorm

Software Engineering

San Diego, CA, USA

Posted on Jun 27, 2026
Senior Systems Engineer, Metal Manufacturing
San Diego, CA
xCell
In office
Full-time
Firestorm is looking for a Senior Systems Engineer, Metal Manufacturing who will be part of a team that will building new variants of a fielded platform — including a metal manufacturing capability that doesn't exist anywhere else in this form — and we need an engineer who wants to own hard problems from first principles through production (this is not a maintenance role).You have a senior engineering background with deep hands-on experience in metal additive and subtractive manufacturing, and you've taken complex hardware from concept to fielded product.
You'll work as a senior individual contributor with real autonomy, but you also understand the value of input from your teammates. You'll shape how we approach metal manufacturing engineering challenges at a company that is still early enough for your fingerprints to matter. If you want to spend your time in a large program office working minutiae and moving PowerPoints, this isn't the right place. If you want to build things that matter, that have near term impact, and work with a tight team that acts with both urgency and rigor — we should talk.
What You'll Own
  • Metal manufacturing development — guide the engineering effort to define, develop, prototype, and productionize xCell's metal manufacturing capability; drive the process from trade studies through fielded solution
  • Process definition — establish the manufacturing processes, parameters, and quality criteria that will govern metal part production in a deployed environment; you know what good looks like and can define it for others
  • New product development — define the problem, run trade studies, establish constraints, iterate design, prototype, and drive to production across metal manufacturing variants
  • Systems-level thinking — xCell is an integrated system and the metal manufacturing capability has to work within it; you see the whole picture across mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, and software interfaces
  • Post-processing and finishing — own the full part journey from raw feedstock through final part, including CNC machining, finishing operations, and inspection; you understand that additive is only part of the story
  • Sustaining engineering — when something breaks in the field or fails to deliver as advertised, you help drive solutions with the xCell engineering team
  • Technical leadership — you'll be a senior anchor on a talented, growing team; you elevate the engineers around you without being asked to
Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering or related field. In lieu of a degree 10+ years of progressive relative experience in the engineering field.
  • U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations, with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance
  • 7+ years of hands-on hardware development experience — concept through production, not just analysis
  • Deep experience in metal additive manufacturing —strong powder bed fusion background considered if other attributes are compelling
  • Hands-on CNC machining experience — you understand the subtractive side of the equation and how it integrates with additive processes to get to a final part
  • Systems engineering mindset — you can hold requirements, tradeoffs, and interfaces in your head simultaneously
  • Proficiency with CAD (SolidWorks preferred) and PLM tools
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with directed energy deposition (DED), wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), or cold spray experience
  • Experience in defense, aerospace, naval, medical, or automotive applications — we care more about the depth of your metal manufacturing experience than the sector it came from
  • High ownership mentality — you close loops, you don't wait to be told, and you hold yourself and others to a high standard
  • Additional metal forming, cutting, or finishing process experience beyond CNC
  • Familiarity with metal part qualification and inspection in regulated or defense environments
  • Experience defining and documenting manufacturing processes from scratch
About Firestorm
Firestorm is a defense technology company solving one of the hardest logistics problems in modern warfare — how do you manufacture what you need, when you need it, and where you need it without support from traditional supply chains? Our answer is xCell: containerized, deployable manufacturing units built around advanced additive and traditional manufacturing that go where warfighters go. We're roughly 150 people, headquartered in San Diego, and we're past concept — xCell systems are in the field in both OCONUS and CONUS today and our development pipeline is aggressive.
Why This Role, Why Now
xCell is at an inflection point. We have a fielded product, real customers, and an ambitious roadmap that includes metal manufacturing capabilities that will push the boundaries of what's possible in a deployed environment. The engineer who takes this role will define how we get there — with the autonomy to shape the approach and a team behind them that takes the work seriously. Relocation assistance available for the right candidate.
Work Environment
  • Based onsite at our San Diego, CA. Headquarters
  • We welcome candidates who are local or open to relocating; relocation assistance is available and may be included in the offer package where appropriate.
  • Travel up to 10%, customer sites and events
This position typically operates in a standard office setting and manufacturing environment. This role requires use of standard office equipment and may involve exposure to loud noise, heat, cold, dust, or chemicals (with PPE). The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Ability to sit, stand, bend, reach, climb, and move about regularly throughout the day. Must have manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment.
Compensation
  • Base salary: $145,000 - $160,000 base, commensurate with experience
  • Equity: Meaningful equity grant in a growth-stage defense technology company
The posted salary range reflects an estimate based on a variety of compensation factors, including but not limited to relevant experience, education, certifications, specialized skills, geographic location, and business needs. Actual compensation may vary, and this range is subject to change as our compensation structure or market conditions evolve.
Benefits & Perks
Our culture fosters collaboration, respect, and trust, empowering passionate people to do their best work. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth. In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation:
  • 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 July, & 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.
Export Control Compliance
To conform to U.S. government export control regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), you 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 the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Firestorm is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, and upholding equitable hiring practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic under federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process.
Firestorm is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require accommodations or assistance during the application process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at careers@launchfirestorm.com so we can provide the support you need.
Ready to apply?
Powered by
First name *
Last name *
Email *
LinkedIn URL
Phone number *
Location *
Resume *
Click to upload or drag and drop here
Cover letter
Click to upload or drag and drop here
Are you authorized to work in the United States? *
U.S. Work Authorization
Are you any of the following “protected individual(s)” as defined in the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)? *
EXPORT CONTROLS - This position requires access to information and technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Your responses to the questions below will be used solely to determine your eligibility under U.S. law to receive information and materials subject to U.S. export controls.
Are you a U.S. Citizen who can obtain & maintain a Security Clearance? *
Do you presently hold an active U.S. security clearance, or are you eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance? *
Clearance Eligibility - This position requires eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance
Do you have metal additive manufacturing and CNC machining experience? *
Do you have powder bed fusion experience? *
Voluntary Self-Identification
To comply with government reporting requirements, we invite candidates to participate in the self-identification survey below. Your completion of this form is entirely optional, and your decision will neither influence the hiring process nor any subsequent stages. Any information you choose to share will be kept confidential and stored in a secure file. As outlined in our Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we uphold a commitment to non-discrimination based on any protected group status specified in applicable laws.
Gender
Race
Race and ethnicity descriptions
Voluntary Self-Identification of Veteran Status
VEVRAA requires Government contractors to take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment protected veterans. To help us measure the effectiveness of our outreach and recruitment efforts of veterans, we are asking you to tell us if you are a veteran covered by VEVRAA. If you believe that you belong to any of the following categories of protected veterans, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.
Veteran status descriptions
Disabled veteran
A veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military and is entitled to disability compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to disability compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability
Recently separated veteran
A veteran separated during the three-year period beginning on the date of the veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S military, ground, naval, or air service
Active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran
A veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge was authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense
Armed Forces service medal veteran
A veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military ground, naval, or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985 (61 Fed. Reg. 1209).
Veteran status
Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Status
Form CC-305
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Page 1 of 1
Expires 04/30/2026
We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.
Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.
Disability descriptions
A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:
  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Disability status
PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.
Req ID: R256