Strike Weapons Program Manager

Front Door Defense; Torrance, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

PTO 4 weeks

Holidays 10

Health benefits

Parental leave

Fitness stipend

EV charging

Catered meals

Job summary

Castelion is seeking a Strike Weapon Program Manager in Torrance, CA to lead advanced hypersonic weapon programs from concept through delivery, interfacing with U.S. Government customers and internal engineering teams.

You will own schedules, contractual commitments, and mission success, driving proposals, design, integration, flight testing, and fielding in a hands-on startup environment. The role requires a Bachelors in Aerospace or Systems Engineering, 8+ years in defense programs, strong

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and technical writing skills.
• Experience preparing CDRLs and technical data packages.
• 8+ years of aerospace/defense or national security programs.
• Familiarity with USG programs, acquisitions, and concepts.
• U.S. citizenship with ability to obtain Top Secret/SCI clearance.

Responsibilities

• Program Leadership: primary customer interface aligning mission requirements with the roadmap.
• Program Execution: manage cost, schedule, and technical performance from award through deployment.
• Proposal & Contract Management: lead proposals and negotiations per FAR/DFARS.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: work with engineering to translate mission needs into product requirements and changes.
• Customer Engagement: lead program reviews and maintain government relationships.
• Risk Management: identify risks early and maintain schedule fidelity.
• Strategic Development: shape new opportunities with government and industry partners.

Skills

Excellent communication

Technical writing

CDRLs & technical data packages

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Systems Engineering

Job description

Program Manager

Lead multiple hypersonic strike weapon programs from concept through delivery to government customers

Location: Torrance, California

Compensation: $150,000 - 190,000 USD / year

About The Role

Strike Weapons Program Manager

As a Strike Weapon Program Manager, you will lead the execution of advanced hypersonic weapon programs from initial concept through delivery, serving as the primary interface with U.S. Government customers and internal engineering teams. You will own program schedules, contractual commitments, and mission success, driving efforts from proposal through design, integration, flight test, and fielding.

This is a hands-on program leadership role in a rapidly evolving startup environment where you will be tasked to lead multiple ongoing programs of varying sizes and complexity. You will operate at the intersection of engineering, program management, and customer engagement, ensuring that Castelion's weapon systems meet the needs of our customers.

Responsibilities

• Program Leadership: Serve as the primary customer interface, ensuring alignment between mission requirements and Castelion's technology roadmap.
• Program Execution: Manage cost, schedule, and technical performance from contract award through integration, test, and deployment, delivering on all contractual milestones.
• Proposal & Contract Management: Lead proposal efforts and contract negotiations, ensuring technical feasibility, cost effectiveness, and compliance with FAR/DFARS requirements.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with engineering to translate mission needs into product requirements, guide design reviews, and manage technical or contractual changes.
• Customer Engagement: Lead program reviews, present technical and schedule briefings, negotiate requirements, and maintain strong relationships with government stakeholders.
• Risk Management: Identify program risks early, develop mitigation plans, and maintain schedule fidelity under aggressive timelines.
• Strategic Development: Shape new opportunities and architectures by collaborating with government and industry partners to inform future hypersonic strike capabilities.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Excellent communication and technical writing skills, including preparation of CDRLs and technical data packages.
• 8+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, or national security programs.
• Proven track record of excellence and achievement.
• Deep familiarity with USG programs, acquisitions, and operational concepts.
• Strong understanding of U.S. Government acquisition processes, contracting, and operational concepts.
• Demonstrated success managing complex, multi-disciplinary engineering programs to cost and schedule.
• U.S. citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI clearance.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience in a fast-moving environment with compressed timelines.
• Familiarity with government acquisition processes, requirements decomposition, and systems verification.
• Familiarity with rapid prototyping, OTA contracts, and accelerated development environments.
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits And Perks

All full-time employees are granted meaningful long-term equity, sharing in the company's significant growth trajectory. We offer four (4) weeks of paid time off, ten (10) company-paid holidays, and comprehensive health benefits - including 100% employee-covered medical and strong dependent coverage, along with dental and vision plans. We also provide paid parental leave to support growing families, a $100 monthly fitness stipend to promote health and performance, and onsite EV charging for convenience. In addition, employees enjoy perks like catered meals, company-covered food during high-demand periods, and a fully stocked kitchen to stay fueled throughout the day.

Affirmative Action/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.