---
title: 'Senior Quality Inspector at Firestorm'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-quality-inspector-firestorm-san-diego-wnf08x32sqfd'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-29'
---

# Senior Quality Inspector at Firestorm

- **Company:** Firestorm
- **Location:** San Diego, CA
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-10-16
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-29
- **Apply:** https://jobs.gem.com/firestorm/am9icG9zdDoqUYPgAjvpxAHjF0SSd5zx

## Job description

Firestorm Labs is seeking a meticulous and dependable Senior Quality Inspector to join our growing quality team in San Diego. At Firestorm Labs, we are building the future of distributed, mission-adaptive airpower for the modern warfighter. You will be responsible for independently verifying that incoming material, in-process builds, and finished aircraft conform to drawings, specifications, and workmanship standards.

You will be integrated within one of our Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) supporting the Tempest, Squall, and Hurricane FPV aircraft lines. You will perform receiving, in-process, and final inspections, ensure only conforming product moves forward to Flight Test and our customers, and keep every inspection documented and traceable. You will be reporting to the Senior Manager of Production Operations.

## What You'll Do

- Perform receiving inspection of purchased parts and assemblies against purchase orders, drawings, and certificates of conformance.
- Perform in-process and Final QC inspection of sub-assemblies and aircraft at defined router checkpoints before release to Flight Test.
- Verify dimensions, workmanship, wiring, solder joints, connectors, fasteners, torque, and markings using calibrated measuring equipment.
- Accept handoffs from Manufacturing and Test using the standard handoff log, confirming part number, quantity, MOT, and open items.
- Complete inspection records and router stamps accurately, maintaining full serial and lot traceability.
- Identify, tag, and segregate nonconforming material, and initiate NCMRs in Jira with clear defect descriptions and photos.
- Support MRB activities and verify rework and repair per approved dispositions.
- Support First Article Inspection (AS9102) and supplier quality activities as directed by Quality Engineering.
- Ensure inspection tools and gauges are calibrated and used correctly.
- Share defect trends with the IPT and support root cause and corrective action efforts.
- Performed other duties as directed

Required Qualifications

- High school diploma, GED or equivalent education
- 'U.S. Person' as defined by 22 CFR § 120.62 required due to ITAR regulations, which includes U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders), or protected individuals under asylee or refugee status
- 5+ years of quality inspection experience in aerospace, defense, UAS, electronics, or precision manufacturing.
- Experience with calipers, micrometers, height gauges, torque tools, and other standard inspection equipment.
- Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, including basic GD&T, and inspection criteria.
- Strong attention to detail, objectivity, and disciplined documentation habits.
- Experience communicating findings clearly and constructively with build and test teams.

## Preferred Qualifications

- IPC-A-610 and/or IPC/WHMA-A-620 certification.
- Experience working within an AS9100-compliant quality management system.
- Experience with receiving inspection, First Article Inspection (AS9102), and NCMR/MRB processes.
- ASQ Certified Quality Inspector (CQI) or Certified Quality Technician (CQT).
- Experience inspecting composite structures, cable harnesses, or electromechanical assemblies.
- Familiarity with Jira or an ERP/MES system.

Work Environment

- The position is working onsite at Headquarters in San Diego, CA.
- Will be working on the production floor and in the receiving area.
- Standing, bending, and close visual work, including under magnification, for extended periods; ability to lift up to 30 lbs.
- Use of required PPE, including safety glasses and ESD protection.
- Occasional overtime to support customer commitments.

## Compensation

- Hourly Base: $32.00 -$42.00 an hour base, commensurate with experience
- Equity: Meaningful equity grant in a growth-stage defense technology company

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.

## 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.

## 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.

## About Firestorm

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Firestorm is a venture-backed defense technology company building an expeditionary manufacturing ecosystem to produce and sustain modular, mission-adaptable unmanned systems and parts at the point of need.
- **Entity Type**: Private (VC-backed; Series A completed in July 2025)
- **Headquarters**: San Diego, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2022
- **Founders**: Dan Magy (CEO), Chad McCoy (CGO), Ian Muceus (CTO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Defense technology / Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing
- **Target customers**: U.S. Department of Defense, Special Operations Command (SOCOM), Navy, Marine Corps, and allied forces (B2G)
- **Mission statement**: “Equip warfighters with mission-critical capabilities at the point of need. Deliver adaptable resilience through uncontestable defense logistics.”

## Products & Services
- **xCELL**: An expeditionary manufacturing unit that uses additive manufacturing (HP Multi-Jet Fusion) to produce high-strength polymer parts in the field. Off-grid, rapidly deployable, with secure communications and HVAC control.
- **TEMPEST**: A modular unmanned aerial system (UAS) designed for production inside the xCELL unit. Configurable payloads for diverse mission sets.
- **SQUALL**: An additively-manufactured first-person view (FPV) platform optimized for xCELL production. “Print. Build. Fly. Dominate.”
- **Repair & Sustainment at the Edge**: On-demand production of replacement parts to keep units operational when resupply is delayed or denied.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed (private company)
- **Key Metric**: Total funding of **$179.5M** across multiple rounds (as of mid-2025). Annual revenue estimated at **$7.6M** (Craft.co).
- **Notable Investors / Partners**: The company has raised from at least 4 investors in the latest Series A ($47M announced July 2025), including debt financing and seed rounds. Specific investors not fully detailed in available sources but include VC firms backing defense tech.
- **Growth Signals**: Employee headcount grew **95.9% YoY** to 127 people; job postings increased **4,400% YoY** (45 active openings). Talent sourced from Northrop Grumman, Shield AI, HP, General Atomics, L3Harris, and others. Awarded PY25.1 STRATFI funding (March 2025) to advance modular unmanned aerial systems.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Expeditionary Manufacturing**: Forward-deployed additive manufacturing reduces dependence on traditional, centralized logistics – a key differentiator for contested environments.
- **Modular Open-Source Architectures**: Platforms designed for rapid configuration and scalability, supporting “Affordable Mass” requirements of the DoD.
- **Vertically Integrated Ecosystem**: Proprietary UAS platforms (Tempest, Squall) are purpose-built for the xCELL production process, creating a tight hardware-software-manufacturing loop.
- **Founding Team**: CEO Dan Magy is a 5-time founder in defense hardware/robotics/AI with a previous exit (Citadel Defense). CGO Chad McCoy is a Tier 1 Special Operations veteran. CTO Ian Muceus is an additive manufacturing subject matter expert from Stratasys.

## Strategic Focus
- **Current priorities**: Scaling expeditionary manufacturing units (xCELL) for field deployment; expanding modular UAS platforms (Tempest, Squall); deepening relationships with Navy, USMC, SOCOM, and CENTCOM; hiring aggressively across engineering, operations, and business development.
- **Direction for growth**: Move from prototype to production at scale, build a network of distributed production assets, and become a prime supplier of affordable, mission-adaptable systems for the DoD.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: “Build toward a future defined by incontestable defense logistics.” Emphasis on solving hard problems that reshape defense. Flat, mission-driven team of engineers, operators, and problem-solvers.
- **Remote/Hybrid Policy**: Mix of in-office (San Diego HQ, Rome NY), hybrid, and fully remote roles depending on position. Engineering roles often San Diego-based with some remote flexibility.
- **Notable Perks**: Opportunity to work at the intersection of additive manufacturing, robotics, and defense; fast-growing startup with significant VC backing; direct impact on warfighter capabilities.
- **Engineering Culture**: Heavy focus on embedded systems, automation, airframe design, RF, AI/optimization, and manufacturing engineering. Teams are small, cross-functional, and hands-on.

## Sources
1. [Gem Careers – Firestorm](https://jobs.gem.com/firestorm)
2. [launchfirestorm.com – Solution & About](https://launchfirestorm.com/?from_theconsensus=1)
3. [LinkedIn – Firestorm Labs](https://linkedin.com/company/firestorm-labs)
4. [Built In – Firestorm Careers](https://builtin.com/company/firestorm)
5. [Craft.co – Firestorm Company Profile](https://craft.co/firestorm)

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