Senior R&D Technician - Mechanisms

Next Matter; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Long-term stock incentives

Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental insurance

Three weeks paid time off annually

Job summary

A pioneering defense technology company in California is seeking a Senior R&D Technician to support the assembly of aerospace systems. This role focuses on executing builds, establishing production processes, and mentoring engineers. Candidates should have 5+ years of mechanical experience, ideally in aerospace, and be comfortable with lathes and 3-axis mills. The company offers comprehensive benefits, including medical insurance and paid time off, plus stock incentives. U.S. citizenship is required.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of mechanical experience in aerospace/automotive testing or assembly.
• Ability to stand and walk throughout the facility.
• Experience with troubleshooting complex mechanical systems.

Responsibilities

• Execute complex aerospace mechanism builds.
• Develop production-ready processes.
• Mentor lower-level engineers in best practices.

Skills

Hands-on mechanical experience

Experience with aerospace systems

Ability to lift up to 75 lbs

Excellent communication skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalency

Associate degree

Tools

Lathes

3-axis mills

MES software

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 R&D Technician – Mechanisms

As a Sr. R&D Technician – Mechanisms, you will play a key role in executing assembly builds for all CAS and TVCA components supporting flight and development activities in 2026. You will help establish production-ready processes, build out the production area, and implement the tools and mechanisms needed to efficiently produce assemblies at scale. This role is hands‑on and critical to ensure timely, high-quality delivery of numerous vehicles throughout the year.

Responsibilities

• Execute on complex aerospace mechanism builds in support of Castelion's flight objectives.
• Bring mechanism build processes from development to production ready.
• Assist in developing tooling and infrastructure necessary to execute on production builds.
• Mentor lower‑level engineers and technicians regarding industry best practice in developing manufacturing processes.
• Troubleshoot issues that arise during development builds and implement corrective actions.
• Perform simple rework operations on manual mills and lathes.
• Perform test set up necessary to characterize, ATP and qualify flight mechanisms.
• Run functional testing of flight mechanisms.
• Ensure shop equipment is well maintained and calibrated where necessary.

Basic Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate
• 5+ years of hands‑on mechanical experience in one or more of the following: testing of aerospace/automotive systems, maintenance/troubleshooting complex mechanical systems, and/or fabrication/assembly of complex electromechanical systems.
• Ability to stand for extended periods
• Ability to lift up to 75 lbs
• Ability to walk throughout the facility and on uneven terrain
• Ability to climb ladders and in and out of motor vehicles
• Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands and arms
• Ability to work outdoors in both hot and cold climates

Preferred Skills and Experience

• 6+ years in aerospace manufacturing, with a focus on electro‑mechanical mechanisms or complex mechanical assemblies.
• Associate degree
• A&P License.
• Demonstrated ability to read, interpret and work from drawings, controlled documentation and processes such as: layout drawings, mechanical drawings, assembly procedures/work instructions; schematics, engineering drawings, and parts list
• Experience with MES software.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• High proficiency with lathes and 3 axis mills.

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.

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.

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.

While this position does not currently require a U.S government‑issued security clearance, it may in the near future. Therefore, the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government–issued security clearance is required. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.