Manufacturing Engineer, Equipment

Castelion; Rio Rancho (NM); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Castelion is seeking a highly motivated Manufacturing Engineer to design, build, operate, and maintain equipment used in the manufacture of ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials and components. This role is focused on practical manufacturing solutions and supporting production on the shop floor.

The ideal candidate will be hands-on, have experience designing, fabricating, assembling, testing, and troubleshooting mechanical systems, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical/related engineering discipline.
• Hands-on experience designing, building, testing, or troubleshooting hardware.
• Experience with CAD and engineering drawings.
• Comfortable using hand tools, power tools, measurement equipment, and basic fabrication equipment.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and ability to diagnose and solve equipment problems.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Willingness to support off-shift production, maintenance, or testing activities when required.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, assemble, and test manufacturing equipment, tooling, fixtures, and support systems used in CMC production.
• Develop modifications and upgrades to existing production equipment to improve performance, reliability, safety, and throughput.
• Lead equipment development projects from concept through implementation, including requirements definition, design, fabrication, testing, and commissioning.
• Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, vacuum, thermal, and process-related equipment issues to identify root cause and implement corrective actions.
• Partner with Facilities and Maintenance teams to support equipment reliability, maintenance planning, repairs, and uptime improvements.
• Support installation, commissioning, qualification, and startup of new equipment and production systems.
• Create engineering drawings, equipment layouts, bills of materials, and technical documentation.
• Develop manufacturing work instructions, SOPs, equipment operating procedures, and nonconformance documentation.
• Collect and analyze equipment and production performance data to identify improvement opportunities.
• Work closely with technicians, production personnel, facilities, and engineering teams to rapidly resolve manufacturing issues.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on equipment capability, process stability, and manufacturing efficiency.

Skills

Hands-on engineering

Mechanical aptitude

Independent work

Off-shift support

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CAD software

Engineering drawings

Measurement equipment

Job description

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.

Manufacturing Engineer, Equipment

Castelion is seeking a highly motivated Manufacturing Engineer to design, build, operate, and maintain equipment used in the manufacture of ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials and components. This role is focused on developing practical manufacturing solutions, improving equipment reliability, and supporting production operations through hands‑on engineering.

This is a highly hands‑on position for someone who enjoys building hardware and solving real‑world manufacturing problems. The ideal candidate has experience designing, fabricating, assembling, testing, and troubleshooting mechanical systems through internships, manufacturing experience, Formula SAE, Baja SAE, rocketry, robotics, motorsports, machine shop projects, or other highly hands‑on engineering programs.

The successful candidate will spend significant time on the production floor working directly with manufacturing equipment, tooling, fixtures, instrumentation, and process systems. Responsibilities range from designing and building new equipment to maintaining existing systems and supporting daily manufacturing operations.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, assemble, and test manufacturing equipment, tooling, fixtures, and support systems used in CMC production.
• Develop modifications and upgrades to existing production equipment to improve performance, reliability, safety, and throughput.
• Lead equipment development projects from concept through implementation, including requirements definition, design, fabrication, testing, and commissioning.
• Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, vacuum, thermal, and process‑related equipment issues to identify root cause and implement corrective actions.
• Partner with Facilities and Maintenance teams to support equipment reliability, maintenance planning, repairs, and uptime improvements.
• Support installation, commissioning, qualification, and startup of new equipment and production systems.
• Create engineering drawings, equipment layouts, bills of material, and technical documentation.
• Develop manufacturing work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs), equipment operating procedures, and nonconformance documentation.
• Collect and analyze equipment and production performance data to identify improvement opportunities.
• Work closely with technicians, production personnel, facilities, and engineering teams to rapidly resolve manufacturing issues.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on equipment capability, process stability, and manufacturing efficiency.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Demonstrated hands‑on engineering experience designing, building, testing, or troubleshooting hardware.
• Experience with CAD and engineering drawings.
• Comfortable using hand tools, power tools, measurement equipment, and basic fabrication equipment.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and ability to diagnose and solve equipment problems.
• Ability to work independently in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.
• Willingness to support off‑shift production, maintenance, or testing activities when required.

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Formula SAE, Baja SAE, collegiate rocketry, robotics competition, motorsports, machine shop, or equivalent hands‑on engineering experience.
• Experience designing industrial equipment, tooling, fixtures, automation systems, or production machinery.
• Experience with vacuum systems, thermal processing equipment, furnaces, reactors, or other industrial equipment.
• Familiarity with machining, welding, fabrication, and assembly processes.
• Experience supporting manufacturing operations in aerospace, automotive, energy, or other high‑performance industries.
• Familiarity with root cause analysis, equipment reliability, and continuous improvement methodologies.

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.