Director of Test

Castelion Corporation•Torrance, CA

About The Position

Castelion is seeking a Director of Test to lead development, flight, production, and energetics testing. The Director will ensure the company has the technical and organizational capabilities to test and qualify its missiles, set technical direction, and build a team that can execute testing goals safely and quickly. The role owns Castelion’s overall test strategy and operating model across development, qualification, flight, and production testing, including mechanisms, structural, environmental, and energetics testing. It establishes fit-for-purpose standards and processes, distinguishes rapid, risk-informed development testing from the rigor and traceability required for qualification and production, and builds organizational capabilities through recruiting, team development, facilities, equipment, software, and automation. The Director partners with Programs, Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, EHS, and national test ranges to plan and execute testing while addressing reliability, safety, and operational risk. The position may require access to classified information or restricted U.S. Government sites, systems, or information. Where applicable, employment may depend on obtaining and maintaining a required security clearance or other government authorization and meeting citizenship or other eligibility requirements. The role also requires access to export-controlled information without additional export licensing being required.

Requirements

B.S. or M.S. in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Aerospace, or a related field.
At least 5 years of experience.
Experience leading large teams in a fast-paced environment.
Proven track record developing and managing large-scale structural test stands.
Deep knowledge of industry standards for test instrumentation, data acquisition systems, actuators, and test automation.
Experience with hazardous test and field operations.
Strong mechanical design fundamentals and knowledge of ground systems design best practices.

Nice To Haves

Experience with energetics handling and testing, including solid rocket motors and warheads.
Experience with production testing for medium- to high-rate lines.
Knowledge of mechanisms testing and associated failure modes.
Experience with PLCs and industrial automation.
Background supporting flight test or launch operations.
Knowledge of flight testing of high-energy rocket systems and range safety.

Responsibilities

Own Castelion’s test strategy and operating model across development, qualification, flight, and production testing, including mechanisms, structural, environmental, and energetics testing.
Establish common test standards, readiness criteria, risk-management practices, and documentation suited to development, qualification, flight, and production testing.
Maintain a distinction between development and production testing, supporting fast, pragmatic, risk-informed development tests while establishing rigor, repeatability, and traceability for qualification and production.
Partner with Programs, Design Engineering, and Manufacturing Engineering to develop a test capability roadmap.
Build the test organization’s capabilities through recruiting, team development, facilities, equipment, software, and automation.
Partner with Quality and EHS to ensure test plans, procedures, and operating practices address hardware reliability, personnel safety, and operational risk.
Establish consistent processes for test planning, anomaly and failure review, corrective action, lessons learned, and risk acceptance.
Collaborate with national test ranges on test planning, range safety, and test execution.