Firestorm

Role Description Firestorm is seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer to join our growing hardware team. In this role, you’ll be responsible for executing complex printed circuit board (PCB) designs across our product lines, with a strong focus on performance, manufacturability, and reliability. You’ll drive layout standards and collaborate closely with electrical, mechanical, and manufacturing teams. This is a highly technical, hands-on position where your deep expertise in high-speed layout, signal integrity, and PCB manufacturing will have a direct impact on Firestorm’s hardware success. What You’ll Do - Shape, support, and design electrical systems and subsystems for new products and components. - Conduct PCB/A design including collecting requirements, schematic design, component selection, supervision or completion of layout, bring-up, test, debug, and integration with the system. - Design high density interconnect (HDI) boards and flexible/flex-rigid circuits for space- and weight-constrained applications. - Ability to build electromechanical subsystems for testing and validation. - Determine technical objectives for solution(s) to advanced technical engineering problems. - Apply best practices in PCB design for manufacturability, reliability, and performance. - Interpret and apply IPC standards, PCB material properties, and stack-up requirements. - Design PCBs involving power electronics, RF, high-speed digital, and analog circuits. - Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, thermal, and test engineering teams throughout the product development cycle. - Interface directly with PCB fabrication and assembly vendors to drive high-quality outcomes. - Manage project timelines, track deliverables, and prioritize work across multiple initiatives. - Ensure all designs meet quality and schedule commitments. - Clearly document technical decisions and present layout reviews to internal stakeholders. - Perform other duties as required. Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, or a related field; Master's preferred, or equivalent experience. - U.S. Person status (Citizen or Permanent Resident) required due to ITAR regulations. - 7+ years of professional experience in electrical engineering capacity. - Experience with conducting PCB/A design including collecting requirements, schematic design, component selection, supervision or completion of layout, bring-up, test, debug, and/or integration with the system. - Experience with schematic capture of electrical circuit design software. - Experience with RF systems and analog designs. - Knowledge of high voltage DC power systems. - Familiarity with power architecture and high-speed digital design. - Experience reading and interpreting designs/schematics. - Hands-on experience working with battery-powered products. - Experience working with suppliers and managing relations. Preferred Qualifications - Experience with advanced battery management systems and energy harvesting technologies. - Previous experience working in a fast-paced startup environment. - Experience with Altium. - Knowledge of compliance requirements and standards in the defense sector. - Familiarity with reliability testing and validation methodologies. - Background in aerospace. Work Environment - Based at our Headquarters in San Diego, CA or remote. - We welcome candidates who are local or open to relocating. Relocation assistance is available and may be included in the offer package where appropriate. Compensation US Salary Range: $135,000 - $165,000 USD. 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 - Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision 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: Free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available. 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.

Role Description Firestorm is seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer to join our growing hardware team. In this role, you’ll be responsible for executing complex printed circuit board (PCB) designs across our product lines, with a strong focus on performance, manufacturability, and reliability. You’ll drive layout standards and collaborate closely with electrical, mechanical, and manufacturing teams. This is a highly technical, hands-on position where your deep expertise in high-speed layout, signal integrity, and PCB manufacturing will have a direct impact on Firestorm’s hardware success. What You’ll Do - Shape, support, and design electrical systems and subsystems for new products and components. - Conduct PCB/A design including collecting requirements, schematic design, component selection, supervision or completion of layout, bring-up, test, debug, and integration with the system. - Design high density interconnect (HDI) boards and flexible/flex-rigid circuits for space- and weight-constrained applications. - Ability to build electromechanical subsystems for testing and validation. - Determine technical objectives for solution(s) to advanced technical engineering problems. - Apply best practices in PCB design for manufacturability, reliability, and performance. - Interpret and apply IPC standards, PCB material properties, and stack-up requirements. - Design PCBs involving power electronics, RF, high-speed digital, and analog circuits. - Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, thermal, and test engineering teams throughout the product development cycle. - Interface directly with PCB fabrication and assembly vendors to drive high-quality outcomes. - Manage project timelines, track deliverables, and prioritize work across multiple initiatives. - Ensure all designs meet quality and schedule commitments. - Clearly document technical decisions and present layout reviews to internal stakeholders. - Perform other duties as required. Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, or a related field; Master's preferred, or equivalent experience. - U.S. Person status (Citizen or Permanent Resident) required due to ITAR regulations. - 7+ years of professional experience in electrical engineering capacity. - Experience with conducting PCB/A design including collecting requirements, schematic design, component selection, supervision or completion of layout, bring-up, test, debug, and/or integration with the system. - Experience with schematic capture of electrical circuit design software. - Experience with RF systems and analog designs. - Knowledge of high voltage DC power systems. - Familiarity with power architecture and high-speed digital design. - Experience reading and interpreting designs/schematics. - Hands-on experience working with battery-powered products. - Experience working with suppliers and managing relations. Preferred Qualifications - Experience with advanced battery management systems and energy harvesting technologies. - Previous experience working in a fast-paced startup environment. - Experience with Altium. - Knowledge of compliance requirements and standards in the defense sector. - Familiarity with reliability testing and validation methodologies. - Background in aerospace. Work Environment - Based at our Headquarters in San Diego, CA or remote. - We welcome candidates who are local or open to relocating. Relocation assistance is available and may be included in the offer package where appropriate. Compensation US Salary Range: $135,000 - $165,000 USD. 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 - Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision 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 and 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.

Role Description Firestorm is building the next generation of uncrewed aircraft and the advanced manufacturing systems that deliver them at speed. The Software Integration & Operations department owns the software layer that spans factory floor to cloud - the applications, automation, edge systems, and intelligence that make it possible to iterate product designs, automate advanced manufacturing, and scale production with uncompromising quality and rigor. This team will own everything that runs on the factory floor below the application layer: - Real-time control software - Cobot integration - Bring-up automation - Test fixtures - Hardware abstraction layer that lets factory systems speak to our cloud platform As an Embedded & Automation Engineer, you will build the software that turns a physical manufacturing cell into an intelligent, automated, data-producing system. You will: - Integrate cobots - Design and operate hardware-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop test infrastructure - Build bring-up and flashing tools - Own the hardware abstraction layer that the rest of the platform depends on This role lives at the software/hardware boundary and demands fluency in both. You will need to excel in rapid-development and hardening for scale and safety. Qualifications - 5-10+ years of embedded, real-time, or robotics software engineering experience - Strong proficiency in C / C++ and Python; comfortable at the software / hardware boundary - Hands-on experience with industrial cobots or robotic systems (UR, Fanuc, ABB, or similar) and motion control - Experience building or operating HIL / SIL test infrastructure for hardware-connected software - Fluency with Linux-based embedded systems, real-time operating systems, or equivalent - Demonstrated history of holding yourself and your teammates to a high standard, even when it creates discomfort Requirements - Demonstrated ability to influence across engineering without formal authority: design reviews, technical decisions, and cross-team alignment - Background in manufacturing automation or industrial robotics deployments - Experience with ROS 2 or equivalent robotics middleware - Prior experience with firmware bring-up and hardware flashing tooling - Aerospace, defense, or regulated-manufacturing experience

Role Description Firestorm is building the next generation of uncrewed aircraft and the advanced manufacturing systems that deliver them at speed. The Software Integration & Operations department owns the software layer that spans factory floor to cloud — the applications, automation, edge systems, and intelligence that make it possible to iterate product designs, automate advanced manufacturing, and scale production with uncompromising quality and rigor. As an Infrastructure & Security Engineer, you own the security and compliance envelope around the manufacturing software platform. Your scope is the security architecture of a system that spans commercial cloud, GovCloud, on-premise edge on the factory floor, and eventually air-gapped DoD environments — and the compliance posture that lets Firestorm operate in each of them. Security and compliance are preconditions for shipping, not afterthoughts. You define how identity, secrets, and trust boundaries are architected across the platform; you translate FedRAMP and ITAR controls into operable technical implementations; and you serve as the security authority on architectural decisions and design reviews across the department. You partner tightly with our cloud infrastructure experts and devops engineers who operate shared security tooling at the department level. The boundaries are deliberate — you own how the platform is secured and governed; they own how it runs — and the two concerns must resolve cohesively as the department grows. What You'll Do - Own the security architecture of the manufacturing software platform end-to-end: identity, secrets, network segmentation, audit logging, data residency, and the trust boundaries between environments. - Drive FedRAMP and ITAR readiness — translating compliance controls into concrete, operable technical implementation in partnership with compliance leadership and the DevSecOps team. - Own the edge-to-cloud trust model and data pipeline security in partnership with the embedded engineering team — how factory-floor systems authenticate, stream data, and maintain security boundaries under disconnection. - Define and enforce the compliance topology across commercial cloud, GovCloud, on-premise edge, and air-gapped DoD environments — what can talk to what, under what conditions, with what audit trail. - Serve as the security authority on architectural decisions, design reviews, and incident response across the department when the issue involves the platform's security posture. - Deliver solutions that harden security without compromising operability every release. Qualifications - 5+ years of security engineering, cloud security architecture, or infrastructure-security experience with production ownership. - Strong background in security architecture: IAM, secrets management, network segmentation, audit logging, and boundary enforcement across multi-environment deployments. - Experience designing or operating systems in a regulated environment — FedRAMP, ITAR, HIPAA, PCI, or similar — with a track record of translating controls into working code and configuration, not just documentation. - Working proficiency in AWS or Azure and infrastructure-as-code tooling (Terraform or equivalent) — enough to partner effectively with the Cloud Infrastructure Engineer on joint design work, not necessarily to own runtime operations. - Demonstrated ability to influence architectural decisions across engineering teams through design reviews and written design documents. - Demonstrated history of holding yourself and your teammates to a high standard, even when it creates discomfort. - U.S. person status required due to ITAR/EAR constraints on the work. Preferred Qualifications - Hands-on experience with AWS GovCloud, Azure Government, or other regulated cloud environments. - Prior FedRAMP Moderate or High authorization experience. - Experience with edge-to-cloud security architectures in industrial or manufacturing settings. - Familiarity with air-gapped deployment models. - Background that includes both greenfield security architecture and mature-platform hardening.

Role Description Firestorm is building the next generation of uncrewed aircraft and the advanced manufacturing systems that deliver them at speed. The Software Integration & Operations department owns the software layer that spans factory floor to cloud - the applications, automation, edge systems, and intelligence that make it possible to iterate product designs, automate advanced manufacturing, and scale production with uncompromising quality and rigor. As a Senior Full Stack Engineer, you will own end-to-end application development across the manufacturing software platform - API, frontend, data model, background jobs, and the integration points to other systems. You will ship features that technicians, supervisors, engineers, and quality teams rely on every day on the factory floor, and the quality of your work will be visible in how manufacturing runs. This is a hands-on IC role with heavy domain complexity - work orders, engineering change orders, effectivity, defect disposition - and we expect you to get deep on the problem, not just the stack. What You'll Do - Own features end-to-end from product brief to production: data model, API, frontend, tests, and rollout. - Design and evolve the core domain model - work orders, engineering changes, effectivity, defect records - and the APIs that operate on it. - Build React interfaces that are fast, accessible, and designed for operator use on the factory floor, not just a web browser. - Write and review Postgres schemas and migrations; own data integrity across schema evolution. - Partner with product, design, and manufacturing stakeholders to translate real operational needs into shipped software. - Contribute to architectural decisions and raise the bar on testing, observability, and operational excellence. Qualifications - 5+ years of full-stack engineering with production systems at non-trivial scale. - Strong proficiency in TypeScript, React, and Node.js-based backends. - Deep experience with relational databases (Postgres preferred) and ORMs (Prisma preferred); you understand indexing, migrations, and transactional consistency. - Track record of shipping production-quality features in close collaboration with product and design. - Demonstrated ability to reason about complex domain models and turn them into maintainable software. - Demonstrated history of holding yourself and your teammates to a high standard, even when it creates discomfort. Preferred Qualifications - Prior experience building manufacturing, supply chain, ERP / MES / PLM, or other industrial software. - Familiarity with container-based deployments (Docker) and cloud infrastructure (AWS or Azure). - Experience with observability tooling (Datadog, Grafana, OpenTelemetry). - Background that includes both startup and scale-stage product engineering.

Role Description Firestorm is building the next generation of uncrewed aircraft and the advanced manufacturing systems that deliver them at speed. The Software Integration & Operations department owns the software layer that spans factory floor to cloud - the applications, automation, edge systems, and intelligence that make it possible to iterate product designs, automate advanced manufacturing, and scale production with uncompromising quality and rigor. Firestorm's manufacturing platform has an intelligence layer - a planning workbench, a simulation engine, an analytics surface, and eventually an AI assistant - that turns operational data into better decisions. Building this layer requires applied math, pragmatic ML systems engineering, and a deep understanding of the manufacturing domain it serves. As an Applied AI & Optimization Engineer, you will own the algorithms and systems behind this intelligence layer. Near-term, your focus is the planning workbench and simulation engine: - Optimization algorithms for work order scheduling, resource allocation, and conflict resolution. Longer-term, you will lead integration of open-source and custom LLMs into the platform's AI assistant - including air-gapped and on-edge deployments for DoD contexts. What You'll Do: - Own the optimization algorithms behind the planning workbench and simulation engine - scheduling, resource allocation, constraint satisfaction, conflict detection. - Design and implement the analytics layer of the platform: defect trends, yield analytics, throughput modeling, and operational intelligence. - Lead the platform's AI assistant integration: selecting, evaluating, deploying, and fine-tuning open-source or custom LLMs for cloud, air-gapped, and on-edge contexts. - Productionize optimization and ML systems in partnership with full-stack and infrastructure engineers - reliable services the platform depends on, not prototypes. - Partner with domain experts in manufacturing engineering, quality, and planning to ground models and algorithms in real operational constraints. - Evaluate and advocate for build-vs-buy decisions across optimization libraries, ML tooling, and model vendors. Qualifications - 5+ years of engineering experience with substantial applied optimization, operations research, or ML systems work. - Deep proficiency in Python; fluency with at least one optimization framework - MILP solvers, constraint solvers, OR-Tools, or equivalent. - Track record of productionizing algorithmic systems - you have shipped optimization or ML into real users' hands, not just research artifacts. - Strong applied math foundation: combinatorial optimization, heuristics, or statistical modeling relevant to scheduling and resource allocation problems. - Demonstrated ability to partner with domain experts and translate operational constraints into model formulations. - Demonstrated history of holding yourself and your teammates to a high standard, even when it creates discomfort. Preferred Qualifications - Prior experience building scheduling, planning, or resource allocation systems for manufacturing, logistics, or similar domains. - Hands-on experience deploying or fine-tuning open-source LLMs (Llama, Mistral, or similar) for constrained environments. - Background with air-gapped or on-edge model deployment. - Familiarity with discrete-event simulation or agent-based modeling. - Prior experience in defense, aerospace, or regulated industry applications.

Who We Are At Firestorm, we’re on a mission to revolutionize how defense solutions are designed and delivered. Our goal is to empower U.S. ally nations to effectively deter aggressors — regardless of their defense budget — through innovative, cost-efficient technologies. We call this vision “democratized deterrence.” As a VC-backed company at the intersection of defense and Silicon Valley, we’re pioneering the development of mission-adaptable aerial vehicles that put power back into the hands of operators. By prioritizing operator effectiveness, we’re pioneering a new era of aerial vehicle design. We aim to upend the traditional defense procurement model by delivering world-class capabilities at a fraction of the usual cost. Join us at Firestorm as we redefine defense procurement, making cutting-edge technology accessible to all at a fraction of the cost. About the Role At Firestorm, we are building autonomous aerial systems that operate where they are needed most, when they are needed most. Our mission requires speed, ingenuity, and a relentless commitment to engineering excellence. We move fast, test constantly, and deliver capability that performs in the real world, not just in simulation. We are looking for a Senior AI Platform Engineer who is excited to build the platform foundations that make AI-enabled software reliable, secure, and operable at scale. You will design and implement core services, registries, workflow orchestration primitives, and the integration patterns that connect AI-driven workflows to internal systems, without compromising governance, auditability, or safety. This is a hands-on role with significant ownership: you will build the primitives that other engineers depend on, and you will help set the standard for reliability and software quality in a fast-moving environment. If you want to build systems that matter, own your work end to end, and be part of a team that values bold thinking grounded in rigorous engineering, Firestorm is the place to do it. What You'll Do - Build and operate core backend services that power AI-enabled workflows (APIs, orchestration, storage, and internal integrations) - Design scalable data models and registries for versioned artifacts and metadata, with strong traceability and auditability - Implement secure-by-default service patterns: authN/authZ, audit logs, secrets handling, and least-privilege access - Build reliability foundations: observability, metrics, tracing, alerting, SLOs, incident response playbooks - Implement idempotent APIs and state-handling patterns for resilient workflows (retries, partial failure, reconciliation) - Create integration adapters and event-driven plumbing to safely connect workflows to internal systems - Establish release and deployment practices: CI/CD pipelines, environment promotion, rollback strategies, and safe migrations - Partner closely with AI and application engineers to define interfaces, validation layers, and operational constraints - Identify performance, scalability, and security risks early and ship pragmatic solutions quickly Minimum Qualifications - Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent practical experience) - U.S. Citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance - 6+ years of experience building and operating backend/platform systems in production - 3+ years building platforms that support AI/ML systems in production (e.g., evaluation pipelines, model/app runtime infrastructure, artifact/metadata registries, AI workflow orchestration, MLOps) - Experience operating LLM-enabled systems with production constraints (latency, cost, reliability), including monitoring quality/regressions and enforcing safe tool/data access - Strong proficiency in one or more backend languages (e.g., Go, Java, Python, C++) and modern infrastructure practices - Experience designing APIs, data models, and distributed systems with reliability and security best practices - Experience with workflow/event systems (queues, pub/sub, orchestration, idempotency, state machines) used to run multi-step AI-driven pipelines - Experience implementing observability for AI systems (metrics, tracing, logs) including quality/reliability signals beyond uptime (e.g., eval scores, rejection rates, cost/latency budgets) - Experience with production security controls: RBAC/ABAC, audit logs, secrets management, data access boundaries - Strong communication and documentation skills Preferred Qualifications - Experience with AI/ML infrastructure (model serving, inference gateways, feature/data pipelines, experiment tracking, artifact registries) - Experience with GPU-aware infrastructure and/or high-throughput inference (capacity planning, batching, caching, rate limiting) - Experience building evaluation platforms (offline/online evals, canaries, A/B testing, regression automation, dataset/version management) - Familiarity with AI safety/security patterns (prompt injection mitigation, tool sandboxing, policy enforcement, data-loss prevention) - Experience building internal platforms used by multiple teams with clear contracts, SLAs/SLOs, and well-managed migrations - Experience with multi-tenant or role-based access control systems Work Environment - Remote (U.S.) with the option to be based at our Headquarters in San Diego, CA We welcome candidates who are local or open to relocating; relocation assistance is available and may be included in the offer package where appropriate - Ability to travel up to 10%; may be required for team collaboration, field testing, or customer support Compensation US Salary Range: $165,000 - $225,000 USD 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 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 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.

This description is a summary of our understanding of the job description. Click on 'Apply' button to find out more. Role Description At Firestorm, we are building autonomous aerial systems that operate where they are needed most, when they are needed most. Our mission requires speed, ingenuity, and a relentless commitment to engineering excellence. We move fast, test constantly, and deliver capability that performs in the real world, not just in simulation. We are looking for a Lead AI Software Engineer who is excited to build, test, and deliver production-grade AI-enabled software systems. This is a hands-on role, working on end-to-end delivery from early prototypes through hardened deployments. You will potentially lead a small team in the future. This role blends strong software engineering fundamentals with modern AI system development: - Turning ambiguous user intent into reliable, structured outputs - Integrating safely with existing internal systems - Building the validation, observability, and governance required for high-integrity environments This is not a research-only role. You will ship, iterate quickly, and set the technical and execution standard for a team operating under demanding timelines. If you want to build systems that matter, own your work end to end, and be part of a team that values bold thinking grounded in rigorous engineering, Firestorm is the place to do it. Qualifications - Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent practical experience) - U.S. Citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance - 8+ years of experience building and shipping production software systems (services, platforms, or distributed systems) - 4+ years of production AI/ML experience, including ownership of real-world reliability, safety, and performance outcomes - Demonstrated experience shipping LLM-enabled applications to production - Experience designing AI evaluation and quality gates - Experience operating AI systems in production - Strong proficiency in Python and at least one backend/systems language (e.g., Go, Java, C++, Rust) - Experience designing and evolving structured interfaces - Experience implementing safety/security controls for AI systems - Proven ability to lead execution in a fast-paced environment while staying highly hands-on - Excellent communication and documentation skills Requirements - Lead hands-on development of AI-enabled software systems from concept to deployment, balancing rapid iteration with engineering rigor - Support end-to-end delivery across product and engineering concerns: requirements intake, decomposition into structured outputs, validation, and release readiness - Build and maintain agentic workflows with clear safety and quality constraints - Define and enforce structured output contracts to reduce brittleness and enable long-term evolution - Establish build and release discipline - Drive operational readiness - Partner with adjacent engineering teams to integrate with existing platforms - Set team execution cadence - Identify high-risk failure modes in AI workflows and ship mitigations - Produce clear technical documentation and decision records Benefits - Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans - 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan - Equity grants for new hires - Unlimited PTO - Extremely generous company holiday calendar - 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 - Mental Health Resources available 24/7