Senior Propulsion Engineer – Rocket Motor Soft Goods

Castelion Corporation; Torrance (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Castelion Corporation in Torrance, CA seeks a Senior Propulsion Engineer to design and deliver rocket motor soft goods for long-range hypersonic strike vehicles. You will lead material selection, structural integrity, and bonding strategies while collaborating with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, hardware-driven environment.

The role emphasizes hands-on design, testing, and mentorship of junior engineers, with a focus on reliability, performance, and mission success within

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in rocket propulsion or high-temperature material systems.
• Experience with soft goods or internal motor components.
• Strong background in insulation materials, liners, and bonding systems.
• Experience with thermal protection materials under high heat flux and pressure.
• Familiarity with propellant compatibility, adhesion, and chemical interactions with soft goods materials.
• Experience with material processing techniques for elastomers, ablatives, or composite insulation.
• Proficiency in analysis and modeling tools (MATLAB, ANSYS, or equivalents).
• Experience with propulsion testing, data analysis, and failure investigation.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop rocket motor soft goods, including liners, insulators, inhibitors, and internal thermal protection systems.
• Lead the architecture and detailed design of soft goods systems to ensure compatibility with propellant, case materials, and motor operating conditions.
• Perform thermal, chemical, and structural analyses to ensure performance and durability under high-temperature, high-pressure environments.
• Develop and optimize material selections and formulations in collaboration with materials and manufacturing teams.
• Define and manage bonding strategies between propellant, liner, insulation, and motor case to ensure robust adhesion and prevent debonding.
• Work closely with propulsion, structures, and manufacturing teams to ensure seamless integration of soft goods with overall motor design.
• Support material processing, fabrication, and quality control of soft goods components.
• Plan and execute test campaigns, including subscale and full-scale motor testing, and analyze results to drive design improvements.
• Conduct failure analysis and root cause investigations related to insulation performance, erosion, cracking, or debonding.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to best practices in soft goods design and processing.
• Partner closely with program leadership to make technical trades aligned with mission success.

Skills

Propulsion engineering

Thermal analysis

Materials engineering

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor's/Master's/PhD in Aerospace/Mechanical/Materials

Tools

MATLAB

ANSYS

Job description

Castelion Corporation in Torrance, CA seeks a Senior Propulsion Engineer to design and deliver rocket motor soft goods for long-range hypersonic strike vehicles. You will lead material selection, structural integrity, and bonding strategies while collaborating with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, hardware-driven environment.

The role emphasizes hands-on design, testing, and mentorship of junior engineers, with a focus on reliability, performance, and mission success within