Launch R&D Technician

Castelion; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock incentives

Medical insurance

Vision and dental

Paid time off 4 weeks

Job summary

Castelion is seeking a Launch R&D Technician to join the manufacturing team. You will support design, setup, execution, and documentation of tests on hypersonic missile components at our Mariner Factory and travel to support launch activities nationwide.

You will collaborate with design and manufacturing engineering to ensure safety, reliability, and performance standards are met, while contributing to test flight operations and data integrity.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 5+ years of hands-on mechanical experience in aerospace/automotive testing, maintenance, or fabrication of electromechanical systems.
• Ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to walk across diverse facility terrain and climb ladders; perform repetitive motions.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% for test flight operations.
• Experience reading drawings, schematics, and engineering docs.

Responsibilities

• Fabricate, assemble, and modify test articles (precision drilling, bonding, harnessing).
• Set up, operate, and document tests on hypersonic missile components and systems.
• Maintain, calibrate, and troubleshoot instrumentation and data acquisition systems.
• Travel up to 50% to support test flight operations across the country.
• Log test data accurately and maintain detailed records for traceability.
• Collaborate with engineers to refine test plans and procedures and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Mechanical experience

Lift 50 lbs

Travel willingness

Outdoor work

Education

Associate degree in engineering

Tools

Instrumentation & data acquisition systems

Job description

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 design, build, and test next generation weapon systems to give America and its Allies a definitive edge in defense capabilities.

Launch R&D Technician

Castelion is seeking a detail-oriented and highly motivated Launch R&D Technician to join our manufacturing team. In this role, you will support the design, setup, execution, and documentation of tests on hypersonic missile components and systems at our Mariner Factory and travel to support launch activities across the country. You will work closely with design and manufacturing engineering teams to ensure products meet rigorous performance, reliability, and safety standards while also executing on safe and successful test flight operations.

Responsibilities

• Work with a team of technicians responsible for fabrication, assembly, and modification of test articles (precision drilling, bonding, harnessing)
• Understand the assembly and configuration management of test fixtures, instrumentation, and equipment for development tests (mechanical and fluid assemblies, data and control systems.)
• Capable of assembling, servicing, and operation hydraulic actuation systems.
• Travel up to 50% in support of test flight operations.
• Participate in hazardous test operations - including configuration, execution, troubleshooting and monitoring/data recording.
• Accurately capture and log test data using appropriate software and hardware tools with support from engineering.
• Maintain, calibrate, configure, monitor, test, troubleshoot, install, and repair instrumentation, process controls, data acquisition systems, and electrical systems
• Perform routine maintenance on test setups and ensure compliance with calibration standards.
• Collaborate with engineers to refine test plans and procedures.
• Maintain detailed and accurate test logs, records, and documentation for traceability and audits.
• Support root cause analysis and continuous improvement efforts.

Basic Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate
• 5+ years of hands on mechanical experience in one or more of the following: testing of aerospace/automotive systems, maintenance/troubleshooting complex mechanical systems, and/or fabrication/assembly of complex electromechanical systems.
• Ability to stand for extended periods
• Ability to lift up to 50lbs
• Ability to walk throughout the facility and on uneven terrain
• Ability to climb ladders and in and out of motor vehicles
• Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands and arms
• Ability to work outdoors in both hot and cold climates

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Associate degree in engineering, mechanical, electrical systems, or other related field
• Experience reading/interpreting planning documents, schematics, wiring diagrams, specifications, drawings, manuals, blueprints, and engineering sketches
• Experience with precision measuring instruments/equipment
• Experience with rigging, cranes, and lift operations
• Able to drive long distances and tow a trailer.

Leadership Qualities

• Bias to Action and Creative Problem Solving. Desire and experience questioning assumptions in ways that lead to break through 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.
• 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.