> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/1886866-applications-engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/1886866-applications-engineer). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Applications Engineer - **Company:** FIRESTORM - **Location:** San Diego, CA, United States - **Experience:** Experienced - **Salary:** $100,000.0 - $130,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Computer-Aided Design, Information Systems, SolidWorks (CAD), Multiplexing, Document Management Systems, Requirements Management, Software Engineering, Information Technology - **Published:** July 31, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.careerbuilder.com/job-details/applications-engineer-san-diego-ca--2a7e5a13-de72-41cc-9130-0d30e6869f0a ## About the Role * Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Manufacturing, Materials, or related field) * U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations, with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance * 3+ years of hands-on manufacturing experience with additive (MJF, FDM, or metal) and/or CNC machining - you've made real parts, not just modeled them * Design for Manufacturing (DFM) / Design for Additive Manufacturing (DFAM) fluency - you know how to make a part manufacturable and can coach others to do the same * Comfortable troubleshooting hardware and process problems on your feet, where the answer isn't always clear and speed matters * Proficiency with CAD (SolidWorks preferred) Preferred Qualifications * Defense background - you understand the operational context your hardware will live in * Metal additive or CNC process development and qualification experience * Materials qualification, GD&T, and first-article / PPAP-style inspection experience * Experience training or supporting end users on manufacturing equipment in the field * Familiarity with PLM and quality/documentation systems, Additive Manufacturing, Aerospace and Defense, Bridge Building, CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing), CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) Systems, Coaching, Cross-Functional, DoD Clearance, Documentation, FDM (Frequency Division Multiplexing), Financial Support, Flexible Spending Accounts, Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing, Government Regulations, Help Desk, Hospital, Identify Issues, Import/Export, Information Technology & Information Systems, Insurance, Legal, Legal Support Skills, Life Insurance, Logistics, Machining, Manual Dexterity, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Design, Manufacturing Engineering, Manufacturing Equipment, Manufacturing/Industrial Processes, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Office Equipment, Physical Demands, Process Development, Process Engineering, Product Lifecycle Management, Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), Psychiatry and Mental Health, Regulations, Requirements Management, Sales Pipeline, Security Clearance, Software Development, Software Engineering, SolidWorks, State Laws and Regulations, United States Citizen ## Description A manufacturing system is only as good as the parts it actually produces. This role owns that promise. As an Applications Engineer, you're the bridge between what our customers need to make and what xCell can reliably deliver - turning a warfighter's "I need this part, here, now" into a validated, repeatable manufacturing process on a fielded system. You'll live at the intersection of additive and traditional manufacturing, process development, materials, and the customer. One day you're dialing in print or machining parameters and running a part to first article; the next you're on a deployment helping operators produce reliably under real conditions, then feeding what you learned back to engineering to make the next xCell better. If you want to own hard, hands-on problems that have near-term impact in the field - not spend your days moving PowerPoints - this is the right place. What You'll Do * Application development - take customer part requirements and turn them into validated, repeatable manufacturing processes on xCell across additive (MJF, FDM, metal) and CNC, from DFM/DFAM through first article * Process & materials engineering - develop and qualify process parameters, materials, and the part libraries and work instructions that let operators produce to spec without you in the room * Field & deployment support - support xCell deployments, train and enable operators, and troubleshoot production issues on fielded systems in both CONUS and OCONUS environments * Customer engagement - work directly with warfighters and program customers to understand the applications they care about and translate mission needs into what xCell can produce * Sustaining & quality - own first-article inspection and part qualification, and when a fielded system fails to deliver as advertised, drive the process- and application-level fix * Cross-functional feedback loop - feed real application and field data back to systems, mechanical, and manufacturing engineering to sharpen the next generation of xCell * Have a high ownership mentality - you close loops, you don't wait to be told, and you hold yourself and others to a high standard ## Related Videos - [XR Demystified: Separating Facts from Fiction in 2024](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1117-xr-demystified-separating-facts-from-fiction-in-2024) - [Boosting OpenSearch Performance: gRPC Search in Action](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1935-boosting-opensearch-performance-grpc-search-in-action) - [Microservices? Monoliths? An Annoying Discussion!](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/970-microservices-monoliths-an-annoying-discussion) - [How to Domain Model – An example from manufacturing](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/742-how-to-domain-model-an-example-from-manufacturing) - [Sleek, Swift, and Sustainable: Optimizations every web developer should consider](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/937-sleek-swift-and-sustainable-optimizations-every-web-developer-should-consider) - [More efficient software for more efficient microchips](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1164-more-efficient-software-for-more-efficient-microchips) ## Related Articles - [What is Software Engineering?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/289-what-is-software-engineering) - [Now is the time for industrialized software development](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/601-now-is-the-time-for-industrialized-software-development) - [Top Characteristics of a Software Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/166-top-characteristics-of-a-software-engineer) - [Is Software Engineering Hard?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/448-is-software-engineering-hard) - [Is Software Engineering Over-Saturated?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/418-is-software-engineering-over-saturated) - [The 12 Best Jobs for Software Engineers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/401-the-12-best-jobs-for-software-engineers)