Composites Specialist - Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)

Next Matter; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Long-term stock incentives

Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental insurance

Four weeks of paid time off annually

Job summary

A leading defense technology company is seeking a Composites Specialist to support its ceramic matrix composite pilot line. This hands-on role includes operating chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactors, maintaining equipment, and ensuring smooth operations. Candidates should have a high school diploma and 2+ years of experience in mechanical or aerospace environments. This position offers comprehensive benefits, stock incentives, and paid time off, fostering a collaborative and accountable work environment.

Qualifications

• 2+ years in mechanical, aerospace or manufacturing environments.
• 1+ years in aerospace composites manufacturing.
• Comfortable working in a technical environment.

Responsibilities

• Operation of CVD reactors and process execution.
• Assist with equipment maintenance and readiness.
• Monitor, operate, and troubleshoot equipment.
• Assist process development of chemical vapor deposition process.
• Set up and run cycles for material batches.
• Record process data and note production anomalies for investigation.
• Troubleshoot pilot line mechanical and electrical issues.
• Enforce safety protocols for furnace and heavy machinery operation.

Skills

Hands-on mechanical skills

Detail orientation

Safety protocol adherence

Troubleshooting

Instrumentation knowledge

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Precision measuring instruments/equipment

Analog and digital instrumentation

Job description

About Castelion

Castelion is bringing a new approach to defense development and production: one that focuses on short, iterative design cycles, rapid testing in development, and modern commercial manufacturing strategies for production at scale. We're designing, building, and testing next generation long range strike weapons systems to give America and its Allies a definitive edge and deter future conflicts.

Composites Specialist – Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) – 2nd Shift (3:30pm to 11:30pm)

Castelion is hiring a technician to support its ceramic matrix composite (CMC) pilot line, assisting with the operation of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactors. This is a hands‑on role focused on maintaining equipment readiness, supporting reactor operations, and enabling consistent run cadence.

Responsibilities include cleaning and turning around reactors between runs, preparing equipment for operation, assisting with process execution, and supporting basic troubleshooting activities. Attention to detail, adherence to safety protocols, and consistent execution are essential.

The ideal candidate is comfortable working in a technical environment, follows procedures closely, and takes ownership of equipment upkeep and support tasks. This role works closely with operators and engineering teams to ensure smooth, efficient operation of the pilot line.

Responsibilities

• Supporting of ceramic matrix composite pilot line build and operation
• Monitor, operate and troubleshoot chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactors
• Industrial equipment operation and maintenance
• Assist process development of chemical vapor deposition process
• Setting up and running cycles for material batches
• Recording process data and notating any specific production anomalies for further investigation
• Troubleshooting pilot line mechanical and electrical issues
• Enforce safety protocols for furnace and heavy machinery operation

Basic Qualifications

• High school diploma
• 2+ years of experience in hands on mechanical, aerospace or manufacturing environment
• 1+ years of experience working in aerospace composites manufacturing

Preferred Skills and Experience

• 3+ years of experience in the composites, aerospace, nuclear, or petroleum industries.
• 1-2+ years of experience in automation.
• 3+ years of experience running complex machinery such as reactors, aerospace propulsion test stands, etc.
• Experience reading/interpreting planning documents, schematics, wiring diagrams, specifications, drawings, manuals, blueprints, and engineering sketches
• Experience with precision measuring instruments/equipment
• Experience with analog and digital instrumentation (load cells, pressure transducers, strain gauges, encoders, deflection gauges, and accelerometers)

Additional Requirements

• Must be willing to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed
• Must be able to travel up to 20% of the time

Leadership Qualities

Bias to Action and Creative Problem Solving. Desire and experience questioning assumptions in ways that lead to breakthrough ideas that are ultimately implemented. Successfully bring in applicable processes/concepts/materials from other industries to achieve efficiency gains. Ability to personally resolve minor issues in development without requiring significant support.

High Commitment, High Initiative. A successful candidate will have a genuine passion for Castelion's mission and consistently look for ways to contribute to the company's technical goals and prevent hardware blockers. Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere. Strong sense of accountability and integrity.

Clear Communicator. Proactively communicates blockers. Trusted in previous roles to be voice of company with regulators, suppliers, gate keepers and customers. Capable of tactfully managing relationships with stakeholders to achieve company‑desired outcomes without compromising relationships. Emails, IMs and verbal interactions are logical, drive clarity, and detailed enough to eliminate ambiguity.

ITAR Requirements

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Employment with Castelion is governed on the basis of competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

All employees are granted long‑term stock incentives as part of their employment at Castelion. All employees receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental insurance, and the company offers four weeks of paid time off per year.