Mission Integration Engineer

Next Matter; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental insurance

Long-term stock incentives

Three weeks paid time off

Job summary

A defense technology firm in California is seeking a Mission Integration Engineer to support the integration of advanced weapon systems into operational environments. The role involves collaboration with government stakeholders, leading missions and ensuring end-to-end system integration. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, at least 2 years in systems engineering, and the ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance. The position offers competitive benefits including stock incentives and comprehensive medical insurance.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in systems engineering or mission integration within defense or aerospace industry.
• Experience working with DoD or national security agencies.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a customer interface, ensuring alignment between government requirements and weapon system designs.
• Lead mission planning and test efforts for integration and operational readiness.
• Collaborate across teams to develop and execute prototype development strategies.

Skills

Systems engineering

Technical project management

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or related field

Job description

About Castelion

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. Were designing, building, and testing next generation long range strike weapons systems to give America and its Allies a definitive edge and deter future conflicts.

Mission Integration Engineer

As a Mission Integration Engineer, you will be the primary technical liaison between Castelion and our government customers, supporting the integration of advanced weapons systems into operational environments. You will drive the entire lifecycle of weapons programs, from early capability studies through prototype development, test, and operational deployment.

This role requires a combination of deep technical expertise, strong program execution skills, and the ability to engage directly with government stakeholders. You will work closely with internal teams across engineering disciplines including propulsion, avionics, guidance/navigation/control (GNC), software, flight test, and manufacturing to ensure mission success.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a customer interface, ensuring alignment between government mission requirements and Castelions weapon system designs.
• Support all phases of the program from concept development and initial proposals through successful test, flight, and deployment.
• Lead mission planning and test efforts, ensuring end-to-end system integration and operational readiness.
• Work across internal teams to develop and execute prototype development strategies, ensuring timely delivery of cutting‑edge weapons solutions.
• Collaborate with engineers and leads to optimize weapons system performance through design trades and cross‑discipline coordination.
• Represent Castelion at customer meetings, design reviews, test campaigns, and technical demonstrations.
• Ensure contract deliverables are met on time and to customer specifications.
• Provide technical leadership in weapons system verification and test planning, ensuring robust validation and mission success.
• Support live‑fire and flight test operations, including pre‑test analysis, real‑time mission support and post‑test evaluation.
• Maintain an in‑depth understanding of government acquisition processes, certification requirements and compliance standards.

Basic Qualifications

• Strong passion for advancing national security and a deep commitment to developing cutting‑edge defense technologies to support the warfighter.
• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics or a related technical field.
• 2+ years of experience in systems engineering, mission integration or related roles within the defense or aerospace industry.
• 2+ years of experience in technical project management and/or weapons system development.
• Experience working with DoD or other national security agencies.
• Hands‑on experience with launch vehicles, weapons systems or other aerospace defense platforms.
• Strong ability to analyze and synthesize complex technical information and communicate effectively with both engineers and external stakeholders.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree in a relevant technical field.
• Experience with hypersonic weapons, missile defense or advanced guidance systems.
• Strong background in spacecraft or missile mission design, development, integration and/or test.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple parallel priorities effectively.
• Highly detail‑oriented with strong analytical, verbal and written communication skills.
• Active Top Secret/SCI security clearance preferred.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time for customer meetings, test campaigns and program execution.

All employees are granted long‑term stock incentives as part of their employment as Castelion. All employees receive access to comprehensive medical, vision and dental insurance, and the company offers three weeks of paid time off per year.

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 Castelions mission and consistently look for ways to contribute to the companys 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, colour, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or any other legally protected status.