Lead, Energetic Materials & Propulsion Engineering

Castelion; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Equity

Four weeks paid time off

Medical: 100% employee + 80% dependEnt

Dental & Vision: 90% employees / 80%  

FSA/HSA options

401k plan

Paid parental leave

Meals & catering

Snacks & beverages

Fitness stipend

EV charging

Job summary

Castelion is seeking a Senior Materials & Process Engineer to lead the characterization, qualification, and failure analysis of solid rocket motor propellants and related material systems. This role focuses on translating material behavior into engineering requirements and qualification programs.

The candidate should have strong experience with polymer characterization (polymers/elastomers) and propellant techniques, with 5+ years in aerospace and ITAR compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in materials science/engineering, chemistry or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience working with polymer characterization, preferably within the aerospace industry.
• Prior experience with propellant characterization techniques including mechanical testing, impact, static, burn-rate, and impulse testing.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. and comply with ITAR eligibility requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead characterization of propellant and related polymeric material systems using mechanical testing, DMA, rheometry, DSC/TGA, microscopy, and other relevant techniques.
• Develop test methods to understand material behavior across relevant temperatures, strain rates, aging conditions, and operational environments.
• Develop and execute material qualification and acceptance testing programs for raw materials and cast propellant.
• Lead failure analysis and root-cause investigations related to material performance, processing, and manufacturing defects.
• Develop and maintain material specifications, process controls, test plans, and acceptance criteria.
• Partner with Propulsion and Manufacturing Engineering to translate characterization results into material selection, processing requirements, and design inputs.
• Support manufacturing scale-up by identifying relationships between processing conditions, material structure, and resulting properties and performance.
• Ensure material testing and qualification activities comply with applicable material, handling, and safety requirements.

Skills

Polymer characterization

Propellant characterization techniques

Materials failure analysis

Mechanical testing

DMA

Education

Bachelor's degree in materials science/engineering

Chemistry or related discipline

Job description

Castelion is seeking a Senior Materials & Process Engineer to lead the characterization, qualification, and failure analysis of solid rocket motor propellants and related material systems. This role focuses on translating material behavior into engineering requirements and qualification programs.

The candidate should have strong experience with polymer characterization (polymers/elastomers) and propellant techniques, with 5+ years in aerospace and ITAR compliance.