Lead Software Engineer, Web & Cloud Solutions

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 

We’re building the next generation of secure, cloud-native, operator-facing software—and we’re looking for a Lead Software Engineer, Web & Cloud Solutions to help architect and deliver it. This role will initially be an initial senior, individual-contributor role with a clear path to formal technical leadership as the product line and engineering team scale. 

Success in this role means more than just technical execution. You take initiative to drive solutions end-to-end—even across organizational boundaries—and thrive in ambiguity, balancing short-term wins with long-term maintainability. You enjoy mentoring teammates, translating complexity into clarity, and staying hands-on as you lead by example. You value diverse perspectives, elevate team success above individual credit, and remain calm under pressure or tight deadlines. Above all, you’re curious and advocate for modern tools and best practices, creating structure in fast-moving environments and building systems—and teams—that last. 

What You'll Do 

• Architect and implement a multi-tenant, mission-critical SaaS platform in Azure Commercial and Azure Government (IL4/IL5) environments. 
• Build full-stack features using TypeScript/React, Node.js or .NET 8, and modern 3D engines like Three.js, Babylon.js, or CesiumJS. 
• Design real-time data pipelines using Azure IoT Hub, Event Hubs, and Kafka/MQTT to process high-volume telemetry and manufacturing data. 
• Integrate enterprise systems (ERP, MES, PLM) using REST, GraphQL, OPC UA, gRPC, and schema contracts like Protobuf or Avro. 
• Deploy and manage infrastructure using Terraform, Bicep, or Pulumi for AKS, Azure Functions, Digital Twins, Postgres/TimescaleDB, Redis, and queue workers. 
• Champion DevSecOps best practices including GitOps workflows, container scanning, SBOM generation, automated compliance evidence, and OpenTelemetry-based observability. 
• Enforce zero-trust security using Entra ID, mTLS, Key Vault, role-based access controls, and FIPS-validated encryption protocols. 
• Model digital twins for assets and production systems to enable predictive maintenance, capacity planning, and what-if simulations. 
• Optimize performance and cost through autoscaling, CDN caching strategies, database partitioning, and chaos/fault-injection testing. 
• Author and maintain public APIs (REST, GraphQL, WebSockets) and SDKs with versioning, OpenAPI documentation, and reference clients. 
• Develop comprehensive test suites—including unit, integration, end-to-end, contract, and load tests—and own promotion gates for dev, staging, and production environments. 
• Mentor engineers, shape technical standards, and help build a high-performance engineering culture rooted in continuous learning and improvement. 

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field. 
• 8+ years designing, building, and operating large-scale cloud or SaaS platforms. 
• Proven success in a tech lead or engineering manager role, with a track record of mentoring engineers and contributing to team design, hiring, and performance management—ready to balance hands-on contributions with growing leadership responsibilities as we scale. 
• Expertise in a modern full-stack environment (e.g., TypeScript/React + Node.js, C#/.NET 6+, or Go). 
• Proven track record delivering secure, highly available services on Azure, including AKS and Azure networking. 
• Deep experience with Infrastructure-as-Code (Terraform, Bicep, Pulumi) and GitOps deployments. 
• Proficient in DevSecOps tooling, CI/CD pipelines, containerization, and automated testing (Jest, xUnit, or similar). 
• Skilled in real-time and event-driven systems using Kafka, Event Hubs, MQTT, or similar. 
• Hands-on with 3D web technologies and spatial visualization (WebGL/WebGPU), including performance and shader optimization. 
• Strong foundation in secure identity and cryptography protocols (OAuth2/OIDC, mTLS, JWT, JWE). 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• U.S. citizenship required with the ability to obtain & maintain a U.S. Government security clearance. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field. 
• Experience delivering in FedRAMP High or DoD IL5+ environments and authoring RMF/ATO packages. 
• Familiarity with UAS protocols such as MAVLink or STANAG 4586. 
• Experience with Azure Digital Twins, Time Series Insights, or equivalent graph/time-series platforms. 
• Understanding of industrial protocols (OPC UA, Modbus, EtherNet/IP) and modern edge-to-cloud architectures. 
• Proficiency in building immersive, 3D-enabled user experiences using WebXR or AR workflows. 
• Familiarity with serverless/event-driven architectures (Azure Functions, Event Grid, Logic Apps). 
• Knowledge of data privacy frameworks (GDPR, CCPA) and privacy-preserving technologies such as differential privacy or homomorphic encryption. 
• Experience integrating ERP/MES/PLM systems to enable closed-loop traceability in manufacturing and supply chains. 
• Knowledge of blockchain-backed provenance and zero-knowledge proofs for secure part tracking. 
• Patents or publications in fields like digital twins, geospatial analytics, 3D web graphics, or distributed systems. 
• Contributions to open source or leadership in CNCF, DevOps, or observability communities. 
• Experience driving technical direction and mentoring others; management interest or experience is a plus. 

Work Environment 

This is a remote-first role, but we welcome applicants local to the San Diego area, where our headquarters is located, who may prefer to work onsite. 

Compensation 

US Salary Range: $170,000 - $200,000 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
• Unlimited PTO
• Generous Parental Leave 
• FSA 
• 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.

ITAR Compliance

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) 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.

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.