Sr. Staff Project Engineer, UAS Development

The posting, as Firestorm wrote it

Who We Are

At Firestorm, we are building the future of expeditionary defense manufacturing and autonomous systems. Modern conflict has exposed a fundamental problem: the systems needed most by operators are often too expensive, too slow to produce, and too difficult to sustain at scale. Firestorm exists to change that.

We develop mission-adaptable aerial systems and deployable manufacturing infrastructure designed to put capability directly into the hands of the warfighter. From modular unmanned aircraft to xCell -- our deployable microfactory -- our goal is to make defense systems rapidly deployable, adaptable, and producible at the point of need.

We are looking for builders, operators, and problem-solvers who want to work on meaningful technology with real-world impact.

About the Role

The Senior Staff Project Engineer, UAS Development is responsible for leading and coordinating the technical development of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) throughout the entire product lifecycle: from initial prototype development, including conceptual design to first flight, through productionization. This utilizes strong engineering fundamentals and efficient technical program execution to deliver safe, reliable, and innovative UAS platforms.

In addition to individual-contributor program execution, the Senior Staff Project Engineer is expected to build the functional processes and best practices that make UAS program execution repeatable across the team, not just for their own programs.

What You’ll Do

Project Leadership & Integration

Manage technical maturity, ensuring alignment with program timelines and budgets.
Lead and coordinate program reviews from conceptual design reviews through production readiness reviews.
Coordinate across multidisciplinary teams including aero-performance, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, autonomy, software, flight testing, and payload integration.

• Translate system specifications into derived requirements and manage system-level architecture and interfaces.

Technical Oversight & Systems Engineering

Provide peer reviews for technical deliverables such as stress analyses and flight test plans.
Ensure all subsystems (flight control, navigation, communication, propulsion, etc.) are effectively integrated and tested.
Map verification and validation methods to requirements.

• Communicate technical risks through appropriate stakeholders.

Building Functional Processes & Best Practices

Establish repeatable templates and entry/exit criteria for design and program reviews so review quality doesn't depend on who's running it.
Build and maintain configuration management and interface control practices that scale as program count and team size grow.
Capture lessons learned from each development cycle and convert them into concrete process changes, checklists, or tooling—not just retrospective notes.

• Partner with engineering leadership to decide where formal process adds value versus where it slows down it

[…]
nity 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.