Associate Product Manager
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Summary
Associate Product Manager at Firestorm, a defense tech company building autonomous aerial systems and deployable microfactories. Based in San Diego, the APM owns roadmap and backlog for a product area, gathers feedback on the factory floor and at test events, and ships solutions with engineering using tools like SQL, Jira, and Linear.
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, 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