Manager, Energetics Test Engineering

Castelion Corporation; Rio Rancho (NM); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Castelion Corporation in Rio Rancho, NM is seeking a Manager of Energetics Test Engineering to lead testing of solid rocket motors and related energetics for development, qualification, and production. You will own test planning, readiness, and safety across campaigns.

You will mentor engineers, coordinate with Propulsion, Manufacturing, Site Operations, and Quality, and ensure data integrity and timely reporting to leadership while upholding DoD/ITAR compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Systems Engineering or related field.
• 8+ years in aerospace, defense, or propulsion test engineering.
• 3+ years leading engineers on energetic, ordnance, or SRM test programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Energetics Test Engineering team and mentoring.
• Own test engineering roadmap for development and production acceptance testing.
• Develop test plans, instrumentation requirements, and success criteria for tests.
• Ensure test stands and safety systems are ready for campaigns.
• Oversee data reduction, anomaly investigation, and test reporting.
• Coordinate with range safety and external test facilities.
• Drive continuous improvement in test efficiency and data integrity.
• Ensure compliance with DoD explosive safety, ATF, ITAR, and site protocols.
• Support transition of methods from R&D to production-ready testing.

Skills

Propulsion test planning

Instrumentation & data acquisition

Test readiness reviews

Statistical analysis

Energetics/propulsion hardware

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Data acquisition systems

Test stands interfaces

Environmental test methods

ITAR familiarity

Job description

Why Castelion, Why Now

Castelion is moving incredibly fast to develop and deliver advanced defense systems at a time when execution matters more than ever. We believe focus, ownership, and excellence are decisive advantages - and we're building a world-class team to turn bold ideas into real capability.

This is a rare opportunity to join at an early stage, where you'll have significant ownership, collaborate with exceptional teammates, and make a direct, measurable impact on our mission and the future of the company - regardless of your function.

Manager, Energetics Test Engineering

Solid Rocket Motors & Energetics Testing – Aerospace & Defense

Position Overview

We are seeking a Manager of Energetics Test Engineering to lead the test engineering organization responsible for development, qualification, and production testing of solid rocket motors and related energetic hardware at Castelion. This role owns test planning, test system readiness, safe execution of static fire and related development tests, data quality, and the engineers who support those campaigns for hypersonic programs including Blackbeard. You will partner with Propulsion, Manufacturing, Site Operations, Quality, and range partners to deliver test results that mature hardware and support production decisions, while maintaining an uncompromising safety culture in high-consequence energetic environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the energetics test engineering team, including hiring, mentoring, priorities, and performance for engineers supporting SRM and related energetic testing.
• Own the test engineering roadmap for development, qualification, and production-acceptance testing of solid rocket motors and associated hardware.
• Direct development of test plans, procedures, instrumentation requirements, and success criteria for static fire and related development and qualification tests.
• Ensure test stands, instrumentation, data acquisition, and safety systems are ready, documented, and maintained for scheduled campaigns.
• Oversee real-time test support, data reduction, anomaly investigation, and formal test reporting in partnership with Propulsion and Quality.
• Coordinate with range safety, Site Operations, and external test facilities on schedules, constraints, and test readiness reviews.
• Drive continuous improvement in test efficiency, data integrity, instrumentation standards, and lessons learned across campaigns.
• Ensure compliance with DoD explosive safety standards, ATF requirements, ITAR, range safety, and site energetic-materials protocols.
• Support transition of test methods from R&D campaigns to repeatable production acceptance testing as programs scale.
• Report test readiness, safety, schedule, and technical risk to senior leadership and program teams.
• Partner with Manufacturing and Design on testability, hardware interfaces, and post-test hardware disposition.

Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field required. Master's degree preferred.

Experience

• 8+ years of test engineering experience in aerospace, defense, or propulsion.
• 3+ years leading engineers or serving as a technical lead on energetic, ordnance, or solid rocket motor test programs.
• Demonstrated experience planning and supporting static fire or equivalent high-consequence propulsion tests.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of propulsion test planning, instrumentation, data acquisition, and post-test analysis.
• Experience with test stand interfaces, safety systems, and test readiness reviews for energetic hardware.
• Working knowledge of environmental and functional test methods used to qualify propulsion hardware.
• Familiarity with statistical analysis of test data and anomaly investigation methods.
• Ability to translate propulsion and program requirements into executable test plans and resource plans.
• Understanding of configuration control, test documentation, and aerospace quality systems.

Preferred Experience

• Direct leadership of solid rocket motor static fire or missile propulsion test campaigns.
• Background in fast-paced defense or space organizations with aggressive development timelines.
• Experience supporting both development testing and production acceptance testing.
• Prior work at government or commercial test ranges.
• Familiarity with ITAR-controlled programs and classified test environments.
• Experience scaling a test engineering team as test cadence increases.

Castelion offers a generous benefits package. Please refer to the bottom of our Careers page for more details.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Additional Eligibility Requirements

This position may require access to classified information or restricted U.S. Government sites, systems, or information, as determined by the Company and/or applicable U.S. Government requirements. If the position is so designated, your employment in the role may be contingent upon your ability to obtain and maintain the required U.S. Government security clearance or other government authorization, and to satisfy any citizenship or other eligibility requirements imposed by applicable law, regulation, executive order, or government contract requirements. You will be notified if and when such requirements apply.

Affirmative Action/EEO Statement

Castelion is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Castelion is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and hiring process. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, participate in the interview process, or otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact [e-mail]. Requests for accommodation will be considered on an individual basis and handled in accordance with applicable law.

Castelion is committed to fostering a workplace where employment decisions are based on qualifications, business needs, and the ability to perform the essential functions of the role, with or without reasonable accommodation.

EAR/ITAR Requirements

This position requires access to export-controlled information, and as such, employment (or hiring of a contractor) is contingent upon the candidate's ability to access all applicable export-controlled information without additional export licensing being required by the Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.