Manager, Development Test

Next Matter; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Long-term stock incentives

Comprehensive medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Four weeks paid time off

Job summary

A cutting-edge technology company based in Torrance, California is looking for a passionate Manager of Development Test. The successful applicant will lead a growing team of engineers to establish a robust testing framework for advanced hardware. Ideal candidates will have over 8 years of relevant experience, a strong background in engineering principles, and a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Electrical Engineering. Offering competitive benefits including stock incentives and comprehensive health insurance.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of hands-on hardware testing, prototyping, lab-based engineering experience.
• Capability to evaluate system-level risk and develop test strategies approved by the customer.
• Demonstrated experience leading and growing engineering and technician teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead a high-performing team of engineers and technicians.
• Design and build test systems from concept through execution.
• Own the R&D development test strategy across various domains.
• Drive tests to failure and identify failure modes.
• Manage multiple parallel test campaigns effectively.

Skills

Hands-on hardware testing

Project management

Instrumentation knowledge

Leading teams

Technical report writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Electrical Engineering

Tools

Python

LabVIEW

JIRA

DEWESoft

Job description

About Castelion

Castelion is rapidly developing and delivering advanced defense systems at a time when execution and technical excellence matter more than ever. We move fast, focus hard, and build real capability—not just concepts. This is a rare opportunity to join at an early stage where your work will directly shape critical systems, influence major technical decisions, and have immediate real‑world impact.

Role Overview

The Manager, Development Test leads R&D testing in a fast‑paced development environment to reduce hardware development time and increase reliability. You own the test strategy, build/operate test systems, lead a growing team, and drive clear visibility into testing progress across the company.

Responsibilities

• Build, lead, and mentor a high‑performing team of 4-7 engineers and technicians.
• Design, build, train and operate test systems from concept through execution (01 development).
• Own the R&D development test strategy across structural, dynamic, functional, and environmental domains.
• Maintain a daily updated company‑wide dashboard with visibility into testing progress and priorities to balance speed, rigor, and resources.
• Drive tests to failure and identify primary and secondary failure modes.
• Manage multiple parallel test campaigns with effective prioritization and ownership.
• Maintain and improve test infrastructure, lab capabilities, and external resources.
• Set a culture and practice of safety.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• 8+ years of hands‑on hardware testing, prototyping, lab‑based engineering, and project management experience.
• Strong familiarity with instrumentation, sensors, and data acquisition systems.
• Demonstrated experience leading and growing engineering and technician teams and driving cross‑functional execution.
• Experience writing technical reports, procedures, and building test result capture frameworks.
• Demonstrated capability to evaluate system‑level risk and develop test strategies that are aligned with and approved by the customer.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Background in structural or reliability testing in aerospace, automotive, or related industries.
• Comfort in high‑rate development or rapid prototyping environments.
• Proficiency with automation tools (Python, LabVIEW, JIRA, DEWESoft, etc.).
• Exposure to the physics of failure analysis and reliability engineering.

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.