Staff Backend Engineer 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 plans and executes production across factories that don't look alike, using supply that isn't guaranteed to arrive. It runs in the cloud, inside a factory, and air-gapped in classified environments, with consistent behavior across all three. The backend has to represent how production actually works: materials, inventory, resources, processes, work, constraints, and the state of a factory as it changes. It has to integrate with systems that own different pieces of that truth, support planning and optimization, and remain correct across deployments that may lose connectivity for hours or days. We are hiring a Staff Backend Software Engineer to help build the core backend of Crucible. The backend is heavily TypeScript today, with GraphQL and Prisma, but we expect the stack to evolve with the product. What You’ll Do

• Build Crucible's backend — Design and ship the services, APIs, data models, and workflows behind production planning and execution.
• Own core system models — Define how Crucible represents production, materials, inventory, resources, work, and operational state.
• Design for distributed operation — Build systems that behave correctly across cloud, factory, and disconnected deployments, including synchronization, reconciliation, and failure recovery.
• Build durable integrations — Connect Crucible to PLM, ERP, quality, test, optimization, and other production systems through clear interfaces and ownership boundaries.
• Make the system reliable — Improve performance, observability, testing, and failure handling for software used to run real production.
• Partner on architecture — Work with software leadership and architecture on service boundaries, data ownership, system interfaces, and technical direction.
• Raise the engineering bar — Review critical code and designs, improve development practices, and help other engineers solve difficult backend problem

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years building and shipping backend or distributed software in production, with a proven track-record of success
• U.S. person required due to ITAR regulations
• Strong backend software engineering fundamentals and demonstrated judgment choosing technologies and system designs appropriate to the problem
• Strong experience with at least one modern backend language
• Strong relational data modeling, API design, and distributed systems fundamentals
• Experience designing systems with complex state, workflows, and consistency requirements
• Experience designing systems with synchronization, distributed state, or consistency challenges
• Experience operating and debugging production software
• Demonstrated ability to take ambiguous technical problems from design through deployment
• Strong written and verbal communication

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building production backend systems with TypeScript/Node.js, GraphQL, and Prisma or similar technologies
• Experience with disconnected or intermittently connected systems
• Experience with manufacturing, logistics, supply chain, ERP, or MES software
• Experience integrating with external enterprise or industrial systems
• Aerospace, defense, robotics, automotive, or other complex physical-system 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: $175,000 – $195,000 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.