System Architect

About the role

The Software Integration & Operations department owns the software layer that spans factory floor to cloud — the applications, automation, edge systems, and intelligence that make it possible to iterate product designs, automate advanced manufacturing, and scale production with uncompromising quality and rigor.

Responsibilities

• Own the reference architecture for the manufacturing software system end-to-end: product definition, platform, edge, automation, intelligence modules, and the integration contracts between them.
• Define and evolve the canonical domain model — how product definitions, work orders, engineering changes, effectivity, and operational feedback are represented across the system.
• Author the system-level design documents that engineers build against — reference architectures, canonical data models, API contracts, integration specifications.
• Serve as technical authority on cross-program architectural questions: how the system absorbs a new product program, a new manufacturing cell, a new module, or a new deployment topology without accumulating fragmentation.
• Write production code where it matters — proof-of-concept implementations that prove a design works, critical path contributions when the architecture is load-bearing, and reviews that hold the line on system coherence.
• Partner closely with the Principal Engineer on how architecture lands in engineering execution, and with the department head on how architecture informs roadmap and strategy.
• Partner with Applied AI engineers to devise optimization models, and with Full Stack engineers to redesign data schemas.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent practical experience)
• U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations
• 10+ years of software engineering experience, with a substantial portion of that time spent architecting, implementing, and shipping integrated software systems
• Demonstrated track record of success as a hands-on architect, with software solutions delivered in the past
• Deep software breadth — you are fluent across application, data, distributed systems, and integration concerns, and you can go deep on any of them when required.
• Strong applied math or algorithmic literacy — you can partner with an optimization engineer on problem formulation and reason about the math, not just the code around it.
• Exceptional written communication. The reference architecture document is your primary artifact, and engineers should actually use it.
• Demonstrated ability to influence across engineering without formal authority: design reviews, technical decisions, and cross-team alignment.
• Demonstrated history of holding yourself and your teammates to a high standard, even when it creates discomfort.

Qualifications

• Prior experience architecting software systems for manufacturing, aerospace, defense, industrial IoT, or other hardware-connected domains.
• Hands-on experience with scheduling, planning, or resource allocation optimization — MILP, constraint programming, or heuristic approaches.
• Familiarity with MES, PLM, ERP, or similar enterprise manufacturing systems and their integration patterns.
• Experience designing systems for regulated deployment environments (FedRAMP, ITAR, air-gapped DoD).

Skills

• Deep technical expertise and delivery focused leadership
• Fluent across application, data, distributed systems, and integration concerns
• Strong applied math or algorithmic literacy
• Exceptional written communication
• Influence across engineering without formal authority
• Holding yourself and your teammates to a high standard

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
• Equity grants for new hires
• Unlimited PTO
• Generous Parental Leave
• Lifestyle Spending Account (FSA/DCE)
• HSA/HDCA
• Healthcare coverage including hospital indemnity insurance, critical illness insurance, accident insurance, basic life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, 100% covered by Firestorm.
• Mental Health Resources: free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more.
• Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support.

Pay

US Salary Range: $160,000 - $185,000 USD

Schedule

Based at our Headquarters in San Diego, CA This role requires an on-site presence This position typically operates in a standard office setting and manufacturing environment. This role requires use of standard office equipment and may involve exposure to loud noise, heat, cold, dust, or chemicals (with PPE). This position may have exposure to outdoor weather conditions, noise, and non-climate-controlled environments. May require the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) depending on the environment. This is a fast-paced work environment and requires cross departmental collaboration with independent and team-based responsibilities.