Director of Manufacturing

STEM Boomerang•Rio Rancho, NM

11h

About The Position

Castelion was founded to restore America’s ability to field advanced weapons at speed and scale. The company combines rapid iteration, vertical integration, and scalable manufacturing to deliver affordable, high-performance strike systems and strengthen national security. The Director of Manufacturing will lead Castelion’s manufacturing operations based in Rio Rancho. This leader will build and lead a world-class operation, driving innovation and operational excellence to scale production of hypersonic capability.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
At least 10 years of experience in production or manufacturing operations, or manufacturing engineering.
At least 5 years of experience in production or operations leadership.
Demonstrated success scaling production from development or prototype to high-volume production.
Deep understanding of high-precision, complex aerospace hardware production, including metallic and composite fabrication, machining, welding, additive manufacturing, tight-tolerance assembly, avionics, testing and acceptance, and non-destructive evaluation (NDE).
Ability to interpret raw data, identify trends or anomalies, and translate findings into clear, data-informed strategies.
Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing cross-functional team, with emphasis on culture, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, and compliance.
Must meet U.S. Government export-regulation eligibility requirements: be a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, or be eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations.

Nice To Haves

Experience in fast-paced, high-stakes, high-reliability aerospace or defense startups, including decision-making under ambiguity, handling programmatic or contract demands, and adapting to shifting priorities.
Experience with manufacturing execution systems (MES), ERP/PLM systems, production data systems, material resource planning (MRP), and digital manufacturing workflows.
Strong background in manufacturing engineering, operational excellence, and continuous improvement methods such as Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, process optimization, DFM/DFA, production flow and layout planning, tooling, and automation.
Deep knowledge of aerospace manufacturing standards and regulatory frameworks such as AS9100, NADCAP, and applicable military or defense manufacturing standards, including quality management, audit readiness, compliance, and export-control/ITAR requirements.
Extensive leadership experience in aerospace, defense, or high-complexity manufacturing, including several years at senior manager or director level leading cross-functional teams; the posting indicates 10–15+ years of leadership experience.
Experience with manufacturing or production of energetic materials or systems, including propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics, or related energetic payloads, and understanding of their safety, process control, and qualification requirements.
Bias toward action, creative problem solving, and willingness to question assumptions and apply ideas from other industries.
High initiative, accountability, integrity, and ability to work autonomously in a fast-paced, demanding environment.
Clear and proactive communication, including communicating blockers and managing relationships with regulators, suppliers, gatekeepers, customers, and other stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Lead and build manufacturing operations in Rio Rancho.
Scale production from development and prototype stages to high-volume manufacturing.
Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing, cross-functional team across production, manufacturing engineering, quality, supply chain, and operations.
Drive operational excellence, continuous improvement, accountability, and a strong safety and quality culture.
Use production data to identify trends or anomalies and develop data-informed strategies.
Collaborate with engineering, quality, supply chain, leadership, and potentially external partners or customers.
Support compliance, audit readiness, configuration management, and applicable manufacturing requirements.

Benefits

Long-term stock incentives and meaningful employee equity.
Four weeks of paid time off per year.
Ten company-paid holidays.
Medical insurance, with plans covering 100% of employee premiums and 80% of dependent coverage.
Dental and vision coverage, with 90% of employee premiums and 80% of dependent coverage covered.
Flexible spending account (FSA) and health savings account (HSA) options.
401(k) plan.
Paid parental leave, including up to 10 weeks for birthing parents and up to 4 weeks for non-birthing parents; the posting also states eight weeks of paid parental leave for all parents and additional paid pregnancy leave for California employees.
Frequently catered lunches and team meals, and company-covered meals when extra time or effort is required.
Fully stocked kitchen with snacks and drinks.
$100 monthly fitness stipend.
Onsite electric vehicle charging.