Full Stack Engineer - Crucible in San Diego, California at Firestorm

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 Firestorm builds uncrewed aircraft and the manufacturing network that produces them: full-capability plants, deployable xCell edge factories, and forward-deployed sites that stand up production near the point of need. Crucible is the software that runs that network. It runs in the cloud, inside a factory, and air-gapped in classified environments. At the edge, Crucible has to operate reliably on local compute, connect to factory equipment, and keep working when cloud infrastructure and internet connectivity are unavailable. We are hiring a true Full Stack Engineer with experience building manufacturing, supply chain, or production software. You will build Crucible features across MES, MRP, production planning, inventory, and supply chain workflows. Crucible is early enough that you won't just implement these capabilities — you'll help define how they should work for a manufacturing network spanning full-scale factories, xCells in the field, and forward deployed production lines This is a hands-on full-stack role. You will work directly with manufacturing, supply chain, product, and software to take operational problems from the factory floor through design and into production software. What You’ll Do

• Build manufacturing software end-to-end — Own features across the data model, API, frontend, tests, and rollout.
• Design production workflows — Build capabilities around work orders, routings, BOMs, inventory, material availability, capacity, scheduling, and production state.
• Bring domain experience into the product — Help determine how Crucible should model and solve manufacturing and supply chain problems based on systems you have built or operated before.
• Build for operators — Develop React interfaces for technicians, planners, supervisors, engineers, and other users working directly in production.
• Own the data model — Design and evolve relational models that represent manufacturing state accurately and maintain data integrity as the product grows.
• Work directly with the factory — Partner with manufacturing and supply chain teams to understand current processes, identify gaps, and turn them into durable product capabilities.
• Raise the engineering bar — Contribute to architecture, code review, testing, and development practices across the Crucible team.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years building and shipping full-stack software, with a track record of success
• U.S. person required due to ITAR regulations
• Experience building MES, MRP/ERP, production planning, supply chain, inventory, PLM, or other manufacturing software
• Strong understanding of manufacturing and production operations gained through building or operating software in the domain
• Strong experience with TypeScript, React, and modern backend development
• Strong relational data modeling and SQL fundamentals
• Experience taking complex operational workflows from problem definition through shipped software
• Strong written and verbal communication across engineering and operational teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building or extending MES, MRP, APS, ERP, PLM, or supply chain planning products
• Aerospace, defense, automotive, medical device, or other complex manufacturing experience
• Experience working directly with operators and manufacturing teams on the factory floor
• Aerospace, defense, robotics, industrial automation, or manufacturing experience

Work Environment

• This 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.

Compensation US Salary Range: $150,000 – $220,000 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 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.