About the RoleAs the Mechanical Engineering Manager at Firestorm, you will lead the mechanical engineering team responsible for the airframes, structures, mechanisms, and integration hardware that make up our sUAS platforms. You will own the technical direction, execution, and growth of a team that spans our main product lines, partnering with electrical engineering, propulsion, payloads, and manufacturing to deliver producible, qualified aircraft on aggressive timelines.
This is both a technical leadership role and a people leadership role. You will set design standards, drive change control, and represent mechanical engineering in cross-functional decision-making at the IPT and program level. Just as importantly, you will build the team: hiring, mentoring, and developing engineers at every level-creating the kind of environment where junior engineers grow into leaders and senior engineers do the best work of their careers.
What You'll DoTechnical Leadership- Set the technical direction for mechanical engineering across Firestorm's aircraft platforms-structures, mechanisms, integration, packaging, and production hardware.
- Own design standards, drawing standards, and engineering documentation practices; ensure consistency and quality across the team's output.
- Drive change control discipline: lead the team's participation in CCB, ECR/ECO workflows, and configuration management across Arena PLM.
- Lead and participate in design reviews (PDR, CDR, structural reviews, production readiness reviews); provide technical judgment on trade studies and architecture decisions.
- Partner with manufacturing and quality on producibility, DFM/DFA, first-article inspection, and disposition of non-conformances.
- Represent mechanical engineering in cross-functional IPTs, customer technical interchanges, and program reviews.
People Leadership and Development- Lead, grow, and develop a multi-disciplinary mechanical engineering team spanning structures, mechanisms, GSE, and packaging.
- Hire across all levels-from interns and new graduates to principal engineers-and build a pipeline of mechanical talent that scales with the company.
- Mentor and develop early-career engineers: assign stretch work, run structured 1:1s, give honest feedback, and create clear paths from junior to senior contributor.
- Coach senior engineers into technical leadership and IPT lead roles.
- Set performance expectations, run performance reviews, and own compensation and leveling decisions for the team.
- Build a team culture that values rigorous engineering, hands-on work, and personal ownership of outcomes.
Program Execution- Plan and resource mechanical engineering work across multiple programs; balance new development, sustaining engineering, and customer-driven changes.
- Partner with program management to commit to schedules, identify risks, and deliver on milestones.
- Drive productionization and transition from prototype to rate production across Firestorm's aircraft lines.
- Support test and fielding events, including on-site presence for structural and integration test campaigns.
Required Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field (Master's degree preferred)
- 10+ years of mechanical engineering experience, with significant time in aerospace, defense, automotive, or comparable hardware-intensive industries
- 5+ years of direct people management experience, including hiring, performance management, and growing engineers from junior to senior levels
- Demonstrated history of building and developing high-performing engineering teams-not just managing them
- Deep technical credibility in mechanical design: structures, mechanisms, composites and/or metallic structures, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and DFM
- Hands-on experience leading designs from concept through qualification and into production
- Experience with change control, PLM systems (Arena, Windchill, Teamcenter, or equivalent), and configuration management at scale
- Experience leading cross-functional integrated product teams (IPTs)
- Strong communication skills-able to engage with engineers, executives, customers, and government stakeholders with equal effectiveness
- Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic startup environment
- U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance
Preferred Qualifications- Experience leading mechanical teams on sUAS, large aircraft, missile, or other SWaP-constrained airborne platforms
- Experience scaling a hardware engineering team from prototype to rate production
- Experience standing up or significantly improving change control / CCB processes
- Track record of identifying and developing early-career engineers who have gone on to senior or principal-level roles
Work EnvironmentThis role is based 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.
- Domestic travel up to 10%, in support of test events.
This position typically operates in a standard office setting and manufacturing environment. This role requires use of standard office equipment and 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 and move about regularly throughout the day. Must have manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment.
CompensationUS Salary Range: $190,000 - $210,000 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 & PerksOur 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 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: 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.
