Lead DevOps Engineer, Robotics Systems

San Diego, CA
Full Time
Experienced

 

Lead DevOps Engineer, Robotics Systems 
Full-time  
Location: San Diego office 

Company Overview: 

Firestorm as a company grew out of the simple question: how does a US ally country with a relatively low defense budget deter an aggressor state entity with a vastly larger war chest? We’re building the very answer to that question, something we call “democratized deterrence.” Firestorm is a VC-backed, defense-meets-Silicon Valley technology company developing mission-adaptable aerial vehicles to put the power back into the hands of the operator. We aim to upend the current defense procurement cost paradigm by bringing world-class capabilities to bear at meaningfully lower costs. 

We are seeking a Lead DevOps Engineer, Robotics Systems to join our team, at our San Diego office. In this role, you will be responsible for planning, developing, implementing, and maintaining end-to-end CI/CD pipelines for embedded systems, desktop, and mobile applications. Your primary focus will be on creating and sustaining CI/CD workflows tailored to avionics and robotics hardware—managing everything from build processes to test automation on real hardware. Your background in mechatronics will be critical for constructing test rigs, wiring, and integration test modules that validate both software and hardware components in demanding environments. You’ll bring expertise in C++, Python, and shell scripting, as well as demonstrated proficiency in GitHub Actions and Azure. You will also serve as a champion of DevOps culture within the organization, advising cross-functional teams and ensuring our processes scale seamlessly. 

What You'll Be Doing: 

  • Develop and optimize build, test, and deployment pipelines for embedded firmware, desktop software, and mobile applications. 

  • Automate routine tasks and ensure consistent, reliable releases across multiple platforms and architectures. 

  • Be the responsible for administrating and maintaining software version control systems (GitHub, Gitlab). 

  • Use GitHub Actions and Azure tooling to create robust workflows, integrating various testing stages and hardware-in-the-loop validations. 

  • Collaborate closely with other teams to build, configure, and maintain hardware test stands, wiring harnesses, and mechanical fixtures. 

  • Develop electromechanical testing modules to validate sensors, payloads, and critical avionics components from the Software perspective. 

  • Work with cross-functional teams to ensure software-hardware integration tests are reliable, repeatable, and traceable. 

  • Oversee Linux-based build and test environments, ensuring secure configurations, optimized performance, and effective resource usage. 

  • Implement and maintain network configurations necessary for continuous integration and testing, particularly for embedded and robotics systems. 

  • Support Windows and other OS environments as needed for specialized testing and integration tasks. 

  • Promote best practices across the organization, from version control to continuous delivery. 

  • Collaborate with software, hardware, and operations teams to foster a unified approach to DevOps, looking to ensure synergy across all development efforts. 

  • Advocate for the principles of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and test automation, while aligning teams with modern software development workflows. 

  • Implement or support the implementation of rigorous testing procedures—unit, integration, and system-level—to ensure the highest levels of reliability and safety. 

  • Maintain detailed documentation of DevOps processes, configuration management, and test artifacts. 

  • Continuously refine workflows to catch defects early and ensure consistent compliance with regulatory and mission-critical standards. 

  • Guide junior software engineers in tooling, process, and best practices. 

  • Collaborate with project managers and senior leadership to set roadmap priorities and DevOps strategies that align with overall organizational goals. 

  • Provide technical insights and recommendations to stakeholders on tooling, architecture, and best-fit solutions for complex integration challenges. 

Minimum Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Computer Science, Mechatronics, Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, or related field. 

  • 7+ years of hands-on DevOps experience, focusing on CI/CD pipelines for embedded systems or robotics. 

  • Demonstrated proficiency in C++, Python, and Shell scripting for automation and tooling. 

  • Practical experience with Github (administration), GitHub Actions and Azure (e.g., Azure Pipelines, Azure Boards). 

  • Proven background in mechatronics, including basic electronics, mechanical design, and wiring to support real hardware test environments. 

  • Familiarity with Linux system administration, including scripting, configuration, and troubleshooting. 

  • Solid grasp of networking essentials—DHCP, DNS, SSH, VLANs—and how these relate to CI/CD and embedded device communication. 

  • Experience implementing automated testing strategies, including hardware-in-the-loop testing for robotics or avionics applications. 

  • Strong attention to detail, documentation, and a formalized approach to QA. 

  • Excellent communication skills and ability to translate complex technical information to different audiences. 

  • U.S. citizenship is required, alongside the ability to obtain U.S. Government security clearance. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

  • Experience working with UAVs, flight dynamics, or other unmanned systems in test or operational capacities. 

  • Familiarity with Azure DevOps (Repos, Pipelines, Artifacts) for holistic project management and streamlined releases. 

  • Hands-on experience designing custom test benches, integration jigs, and automated mechanical fixtures for robotics or UAV components. 

  • Understanding of sensor fusion, data acquisition, and real-time control loops. 

  • Experience customizing build systems (CMake, Bazel, etc.) for large-scale, multi-platform projects. 

  • Scripting/automation experience in Go, Node.js, or other languages beyond core requirements is a plus. 

  • Familiarity with safety-critical standards, regulatory environments, or specialized protocols for defense aerospace systems. 

What Makes You a Good Fit: 

  • You excel at bridging the worlds of software and hardware by ensuring that automation doesn’t stop at the codebase but extends to robust real-world testing. 

  • You’re passionate about building highly reliable CI/CD pipelines and take a structured, methodical approach to QA. 

  • You’re proactive in collaborating with teams, seeking feedback and iterating quickly to maintain best-in-class DevOps practices. 

  • You thrive on solving complex technical problems and are comfortable working in fast-paced, sometimes ambiguous, startup-like environments. 

  • You exercise rigorous coding, testing, and documentation standards, instilling confidence in your work among developers, operators, and stakeholders. 

  • You embrace continuous learning, keeping pace with new developments in DevOps, robotics, and embedded technologies. 

Bonus Points: 

  • Ability to rapidly prototype test fixtures or harnesses using 3D printing, PCB design, or custom mechanical fabrication. 

  • Using tools like Gazebo, MATLAB/Simulink, or other simulation environments to emulate robotics systems. 

  • Familiarity with ISO, DO-178C, DO-254, or related industry standards for safety and reliability. 

  • Active participation in DevOps or robotics-focused open-source communities. 

  • Demonstrated leadership in adopting DevOps best practices across an organization. 

Firestorm is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. Our culture at Firestorm fosters collaboration, respect, and trust to empower passionate people to do their best work. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth. 

In this Lead DevOps Engineer, Robotics Systems position, you’ll be at the heart of ensuring our robotics and avionics solutions are built, tested, and delivered with confidence and reliability. If you’re ready to take on a pivotal role—driving DevOps innovation, shaping testing infrastructure for cutting-edge hardware, and influencing product quality in a mission-critical domain—we’d love to hear from you. 

Salary range: up to $185,000. 

To apply, please fill out the online application and attach your resume.  Please include your LinkedIn profile link. 
 
[email protected] 

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