Senior Composites R&D Technician - Layup

Next Matter; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Long-term stock incentives

Comprehensive medical insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

A defense technology company located in Torrance, California is seeking a Senior Composites R&D Technician who will focus on layup processes for high-temperature composite structures. The ideal candidate will possess over 5 years of experience in composites, particularly in aerospace applications. Responsibilities include developing layup processes and executing fabrication activities. The company offers comprehensive benefits including stock incentives, medical insurance, and paid time off.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in composites layup, ideally in aerospace or high-performance applications.
• Hands-on expertise with prepreg layup processes.
• Familiarity with press molding and/or filament winding.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine layup processes for high-temperature composite materials.
• Execute hands‑on layup, molding, and fabrication activities.
• Establish and maintain standards for consumables and layup processes.

Skills

Composites layup experience

High-temperature composite materials

Prepreg layup processes

Press molding knowledge

Manufacturing process development

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

Senior Composites R&D Technician - Layup

Castelion is seeking a Sr. Composites R&D Technician to own and advance layup processes for high-temperature composite structures. This role is hands‑on and central to developing scalable manufacturing approaches for advanced materials, including ceramic matrix composites (CMCs).

You will serve as a technical anchor on the shop floor—driving process development, executing builds, and establishing best practices that enable consistent, repeatable production.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine layup processes for high-temperature composite materials, including prepreg-based CMC panels
• Execute hands‑on layup, molding, and fabrication activities to support rapid development and testing
• Establish and maintain standards for consumables, layup techniques, and shop processes
• Support tooling design and fabrication for composite part production
• Partner with engineering to iterate on materials and process development
• Document processes and ensure repeatability as production scales

Basic Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in composites layup, ideally in aerospace or high-performance applications
• Experience with high-temperature composite materials
• Hands‑on expertise with prepreg layup processes
• Familiarity with press molding and/or filament winding
• Experience supporting or developing manufacturing processes

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with ceramic matrix composites (CMCs)
• Background in tool making for composite parts
• Experience in R&D or early‑stage manufacturing environments
• Ability to operate independently in a fast‑paced, low‑structure setting

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 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.