Sr. Manufacturing Engineer, Composites

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

Benefits offered by this job

Long-term stock incentives

Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental insurance

Three weeks of paid time off per year

Job summary

A leading defense technology company in California seeks a Sr. Manufacturing Engineer specializing in composites. The role involves developing and scaling in-house manufacturing processes, collaborating with engineering teams, and driving strategic initiatives. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree, at least 3 years of experience in composite manufacturing, and proficiency with CAD/CAM software. A genuine passion for the mission and strong problem-solving skills are essential. Comprehensive benefits include stock incentives, medical insurance, and paid time off.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of composite manufacturing experience.
• Experience in operations/product line management.
• Proficiency in CAD/CAM software, preferably NX.

Responsibilities

• Develop and scale production process for Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs).
• Collaborate with Materials Engineering team for production road maps.
• Oversee introduction of new products and manufacturing capabilities.

Skills

Composite manufacturing

Leadership

CAD/CAM software

Problem-solving

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, or manufacturing engineering

Tools

NX CAD/CAM Software

Job description

Sr. Manufacturing Engineer, Composites

Castelion is seeking an expert in composites manufacturing to help define and scale our in‑house composites manufacturing processes from raw material to flight parts. This includes scaling our current ceramic matrix composite (CMC) production line and supporting day‑to‑day production of all composite vehicle components such as nozzles, aeroshells, fins, etc. This role reports directly to Castelion’s Head of Manufacturing and works with the engineering leadership team to identify and eliminate roadblocks to achieving long‑term company goals. As an early hire on the manufacturing team, this role is highly influential in defining manufacturing and production strategy and culture at Castelion.

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.

Responsibilities

• Develop, mature and scale production process for Ceramic Matrixed Composites (CMCs)
• Collaborate with Materials Engineering team to nurture engineering and technology road maps for full scale production
• Identify, plan, and execute capital equipment, machine, and facility/layout definition to meet business needs
• Develop and refine process documentation including build instructions, test and validation procedures, health and safety standards, and mBOMs
• Create, maintain, and communicate detailed production plans and schedules
• Work closely with supply chain to develop new and existing suppliers as needed
• Design, develop and implement production tooling and equipment
• Participate in design reviews to drive design for manufacturing (DFM)
• Oversee introduction and implementation of new products and manufacturing capabilities
• Analyze and resolve manufacturing issues and non‑conformances
• Develop, mentor, and train peers and colleagues

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, or manufacturing engineering, or other technical degree.
• 3+ years of composite manufacturing experience
• Experience with operations/product line management
• Demonstrated direct or indirect leadership
• Proficiency in CAD/CAM software (NX preferred)
• Experience in selection, procurement, and implementation/validation of manufacturing equipment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in filament winding, automated fiber placement and/or automated tape laying
• Experience with Non‑Destructive Testing/Inspection of composite components
• Experience in qualification and acceptance testing of composite structural components
• Working experience with capacity modeling, process mapping, Lean/Six Sigma and value stream mapping
• Experience with Ceramic Matrix Composites
• Experience in transitioning development processes to rate production

Additional Requirements

• Must be willing to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed.
• Must be able to travel up to 10%
• 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.

Exportation Information

• 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.

EEO Statement

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.