Director of Supply Chain & Logistics

About The Role

We are a growing hardware company building complex electromechanical products, and we are scaling fast. We are looking for a Director of Supply Chain & Logistics to take ownership of how we source, plan, build, and deliver — and to build the operational backbone that lets us scale without breaking.

This is a true player-coach role. You will lead and steady a small, hardworking team while staying deeply hands-on yourself: getting into the details, anticipating bottlenecks before they hit, and proactively engaging to solve problems before they become crises. You will balance the tactical, day-to-day firefighting with the strategic work of charting the long-term course for our supply chain organization. If you are energized by building operations from the ground up — and by the satisfaction of watching a scrappy team mature into a scalable one — this role is for you.

What You’ll Do

• Lead as a player-coach. Roll up your sleeves and solve problems directly while mentoring and developing a small team. Bring steady, calm leadership that helps the team scale under pressure.
• Own the electromechanical supply chain. Manage sourcing and supply for large, complex electromechanical BOMs — mechanical and structural assemblies, PCBAs, cable assemblies, and related components — from qualification through delivery.
• Anticipate and prevent bottlenecks. Proactively identify supply, capacity, and logistics risks. Engage early and drive resolution before issues escalate into schedule- or crisis-level problems.
• Build operations from the ground up. Establish the processes, systems, supplier relationships, and metrics needed to take a small operation and make it scalable, repeatable, and resilient.
• Manage up effectively. Communicate clearly and honestly with executive leadership — where the pain points are, what is being done to address them, and what the realistic timeline looks like. No surprises.
• Balance tactical and strategic. Solve the day-to-day problems that keep production moving while simultaneously charting the long-term strategy and growth plan for the supply chain organization.
• Drive supplier and logistics performance. Develop and manage supplier relationships, negotiate terms, and build the inbound/outbound logistics practices that support reliable, cost-effective delivery.
• Assist in the development of proprietary MRP/ERP system. Work with a cross-functional team to develop and implement a proprietary MRP/ERP system that will act as the backbone of our manufacturing/supply chain network
• Partner cross-functionally. Work closely with engineering, manufacturing, program management, and finance to align supply strategy with product roadmaps and business goals.

What You Bring

• 10–15 years of progressive supply chain and operations experience, including direct leadership at the manager or director level.
• Deep familiarity with large electromechanical or Complex BOM structures and hands-on experience sourcing mechanical/structural assemblies, PCBAs, cable assemblies, and similar components.
• A proven track record of building operations from the bottom up — you have stood up processes and systems, not just run existing ones.
• Experience scaling a small team through a period of rapid growth, with the steady leadership to keep it grounded.
• Experience in global supply chain within the INDOPACOM or Asian markets
• Strong upward management and communication skills — you can surface problems, plans, and timelines to executives with clarity and credibility.
• A genuine player-coach mindset: comfortable being hands-on in the details while also leading, mentoring, and thinking strategically.
• The ability to operate calmly under pressure and to prioritize effectively in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment.
• Hands on experience with the implementation of proprietary/custom built MRP/ERP systems
• Experience introducing new products from prototype through volume production (NPI).
• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, operations, engineering, or a related field (or equivalent hands-on experience). APICS/CPIM, CPSM, or similar certifications a plus.

Nice to Have

• Experience in a hardware startup or scale-up environment.

Why Join Us

You will have real ownership and the opportunity to shape the supply chain organization from the ground up during a pivotal growth stage. You will work alongside a passionate, hands-on team building genuinely complex and meaningful hardware — and you will see the direct impact of your leadership as the operation matures around you.

Work Environment

• The position is working onsite at our San Diego, CA. Headquarters
• We welcome candidates who are local or open to relocating; relocation assistance is available and may be included in the offer package where appropriate.
• Travel between 25% - 40% if needed

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.

Compensation

• Base salary: $185,000 - $220,000 base, commensurate with experience
• Equity: Meaningful equity grant in a growth-stage defense technology company