Senior Warhead Design Engineer

Castelion; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in defense development is seeking a Senior Warhead Design Engineer. This role involves designing and integrating ordnance systems for hypersonic vehicles. Ideal candidates will have experience in energetic devices and thrive in fast-paced environments. The position offers competitive compensation and stock options.

Benefits

Stock options

Comprehensive medical insurance

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

401(k)

Three weeks of paid time off

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in ordnance or energetics design.
• Deep understanding of flight termination systems.

Responsibilities

• Own the design, development, and qualification of ordnance systems.
• Lead supplier engagement and component selection.

Skills

Communication

Problem Solving

Education

B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering

B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

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This range is provided by Castelion. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$150,000.00/yr - $230,000.00/yr

Additional compensation types

Stock options

Direct message the job poster from Castelion

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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 Warhead Design Engineer

Castelion is designing and building next-generation hypersonic weapon systems that restore stability through credible deterrence. We are seeking a hands-on, mission-driven Senior Warhead Design Engineer to lead the design, development, and integration of ordnance systems across our hypersonic vehicles.

This is a high-impact role for someone with deep expertise in energetic devices and safe & arm mechanisms, who thrives in a fast-paced, hardware-rich development environment.

Responsibilities

• Own the design, development, and qualification of ordnance systems, including:
• Mechanically or electronically actuated flight termination systems (FTS).
• Define requirements and interface specifications across mechanical, electrical, and software boundaries.
• Lead supplier engagement, component selection, and build-to-print efforts with a focus on manufacturability, cost, and performance.
• Drive development test planning, execution, and analysis for ordnance systems (including arena testing, function testing, and environmental qualification).
• Work closely with systems, propulsion, and GNC teams to ensure ordnance components integrate safely and effectively into the full weapon system.
• Support FMEA, fault-tree analysis, and safety case development.
• Own documentation and compliance to MIL-STD-1901A, AFSPCMAN 91-710, and other relevant standards.

Requirements

• B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in ordnance or energetics design, analysis, and test.
• Deep understanding of flight termination systems, safe & arm devices, and energetic component integration.
• Familiarity with relevant DoD and NASA standards (e.g., MIL-STD-1901A, RCC 319, etc.).
• Hands-on test experience in high-consequence environments.
• Strong communication and documentation skills.
• Active or eligible for a U.S. security clearance.

Preferred Experience

• Experience working with DoD customers and navigating military qualification processes.
• Background in hypersonics, missile systems, or space launch vehicles.
• CAD and mechanical analysis experience (e.g., SolidWorks, FEA tools).
• Prior experience working at a defense startup or fast-moving development organization.

All employees are granted long-term stock incentives as part of their employment as Castelion. All employees receive access to comprehensive medial, 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 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.

• 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.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Industries

  Defense and Space Manufacturing, Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing, and Manufacturing

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Inferred from the description for this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

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