Senior Backend Engineer, Web & Cloud
Firestorm
Software Engineering
San Diego, CA, USA · Remote
USD 133k-179k / year + Equity
Posted on Nov 5, 2025
Senior Backend Engineer, Web & Cloud
San Diego, CA • Remote
Engineering
Remote • Hybrid
Full-time
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
Firestorm is building the next generation of autonomous systems for defense and national security. We move quickly, solve hard technical problems and build software that operates in real environments, not lab simulations. We are seeking an experienced & driven Senior Backend Engineer, Web & Cloud, who will own backend systems that enable real-time autonomy, data movement, and mission operations. You will architect and scale services, streaming pipelines, and secure cloud-to-edge capabilities that connect autonomous platforms, operators, and mission systems.
This role is for engineers who build reliable and scalable systems, understand production constraints, and take ownership of outcomes. You will improve and extend core platform services, contribute to architecture decisions, and support a high-performance engineering culture as we scale.
What You'll Do
- Design, develop, and maintain backend services that support high-rate data processing, system telemetry, and mission execution workflows
- Architect scalable cloud and edge service infrastructure and drive system-level design decisions
- Build and maintain APIs, service interfaces, and integration layers for internal systems and trusted external partners
- Develop data models, schemas, and patterns for structured and unstructured data across distributed environments
- Implement observability across all backend systems including metrics, logging, alerting, and performance analysis
- Ensure system security, access controls, auditing, and data protections aligned to defense requirements
- Lead technical discussions, conduct design reviews, and drive architecture improvements across the platform
- Guide CI/CD, testing, automation, and deployment practices to support reliable releases and iterative delivery
- Collaborate with platform, autonomy, and mission operations engineers to ensure system performance in real operational environments
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
- At least 5 years of software engineering experience, with a strong backend focus (e.g., Node.js, Django, Spring)
- 2+ years building and scaling cloud-based services and APIs in production environments
- U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations & the ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense (DoD) security clearance
- Proven experience building and scaling distributed systems with real-time data and public APIs
- Familiarity with full-stack web development concepts, with deep backend expertise
- Strong understanding of system architecture, modular services, and cloud design patterns
- Experience with relational and distributed data systems (i.e., RDBMS, warehouses, time-series stores)
- Hands-on experience with Docker and container orchestration in cloud environments (e.g., Kubernetes, AWS Fargate, CI/CD pipelines)
- Experience building secure, monitored, and highly reliable production systems
- Strong communication and ability to operate in fast-moving, mission-focused environments
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
- Familiarity with robotics, IoT, or autonomous systems
- Experience with GraphQL (i.e., Apollo or equivalent)
- Experience with a compiled systems language (e.g., Go, Rust)
- Strong background in distributed data and real-time streaming systems
- Experience deploying software in on-prem or air-gapped environments
- Knowledge of real-time systems for critical operations
- Knowledge of modern communication and data protocols (i.e., HTTP/2, gRPC, NATS)
- Experience with agile development, CI/CD, and DevOps practices
Additional Requirements
- Willingness to travel up to 15% domestically within a calendar year.
Work Environment
- This role can be either on site at our headquarters in San Diego, CA or Remote
- We welcome candidates who are local or open to relocating; relocation assistance is available and may be included in the offer package where appropriate.
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 is a fast-paced work environment and requires cross departmental collaboration with independent and team-based responsibilities. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Ability to sit, stand, bend, reach, climb, and move about regularly throughout the day. Must have manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment. Must be physically capable of tolerating loud noise, heat, cold, dust, or chemicals (with PPE).
Compensation
U.S. Range: $133,000 - $179,000
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 November, & 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.
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Req ID: R103