Associate Product Manager at Firestorm in San Diego, CA

Job description

Associate Product Manager 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. What You'll Do Own the strategy, roadmap, and backlog for a defined area of our product portfolio Spend time on the factory floor and at test events to better understand internal and external customer workflows, pain points, and constraints Transform feedback into user stories or prototypes to quickly build with engineering Define success metrics for what you ship, and use the data to decide what happens next Continuously conduct build-vs-buy evaluations of third-party tools and vendors Communicate status, risks, and decisions clearly to stakeholders across company leadership Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Business, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience) U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations 1-3 years of experience in product management, technical program management, engineering, or a closely related role - internships and co-ops with substantive ownership count. Demonstrated ability to take an ambiguous problem, talk to the people who have it, and turn it into a concrete, well-scoped plan. Strong written and verbal communication; you can explain a technical tradeoff to a technician and a manufacturing constraint to an engineer. Comfort working with technical teams and technical concepts - you don't need to write production code, but you should be able to read a system diagram, ask good questions about an API, and understand why a change is hard. Analytical mindset: comfortable defining metrics, working with data, and letting evidence change your mind. Bias toward action and ownership - you follow through, close loops, and don't wait to be told what to do next. Demonstrated history of holding yourself and your teammates to a high standard, even when it creates discomfort. Preferred Qualifications Exposure to manufacturing, operations, logistics, supply chain, or another domain where software meets the physical world. Experience with internal tools, B2B, or enterprise products where the users are your colleagues. Familiarity with SQL, basic scripting, or analytics tooling for self-serve data work. Prior experience in defense, aerospace, or a regulated industry. Experience with agile delivery practices and tools (Jira, Linear, or similar). 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. Willingness to travel up to 10% domestically within a calendar year in support of field operations, integration events, customer support and testing. Compensation US Salary Range: $100,000 - $125,000 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