Lead Integration & Test Engineer

STEM Boomerang•Rio Rancho, NM

About The Position

Castelion is seeking a Lead Integration & Test Engineer to lead the integration and verification of warhead systems into complete hypersonic missile vehicles. The role focuses on safe, reliable integration of warheads—including energetics, fuzing, safe-and-arm devices, and structural interfaces—with missile airframes, radars, propulsion, avionics, and thermal protection systems. The engineer will own end-to-end integration and test strategies from subassembly through full vehicle level, supporting ground qualification, environmental testing, and flight test campaigns for next-generation hypersonic strike weapons. The role serves as the technical authority on warhead-vehicle integration and test, collaborating with design, manufacturing, propulsion, radar, quality, and mission assurance teams to meet DoD standards and mission requirements. Castelion’s mission is to restore America’s ability to field advanced weapons at speed and scale through rapid iteration, vertical integration, and scalable manufacturing.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field.
8+ years of experience in integration and test for complex aerospace or defense systems.
4+ years specifically working with warheads, munitions, or energetic systems integration.
Demonstrated leadership of vehicle-level integration and test campaigns, preferably on missile or hypersonic programs.
Strong experience with ordnance handling, safe-and-arm devices, and energetic materials integration.
Proficiency in test automation using LabVIEW, Python, or MATLAB, as well as data acquisition systems and telemetry.
Hands-on experience with environmental testing and ordnance functional verification.
Experience with requirements management and configuration control.
Familiarity with 3D CAD for integration planning.
Ability to lead technical teams in high-stakes, safety-critical environments.
Excellent communication and presentation skills for executive and customer briefings.
Strong problem-solving ability under stringent safety and schedule constraints.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience on DoD missile or hypersonic warhead programs.
Background in fast-paced development environments.
Knowledge of insensitive munitions and advanced warhead designs.
Prior flight test support at ranges.
Experience with classified programs and TS/SCI-level work.

Responsibilities

Lead the safe and reliable integration and verification of warhead systems into complete hypersonic missile vehicles.
Integrate warheads, including energetics, fuzing, safe-and-arm devices, and structural interfaces, with missile airframes, radars, propulsion, avionics, and thermal protection systems.
Own end-to-end integration and test strategies from subassembly through full vehicle level.
Support ground qualification, environmental testing, and flight test campaigns.
Serve as the technical authority on warhead-vehicle integration and test.
Collaborate with design, manufacturing, propulsion, radar, quality, and mission assurance teams to meet DoD standards and mission requirements.
Lead technical teams in safety-critical environments and present information in executive and customer briefings.

Benefits

Meaningful employee equity for full-time employees.
Four weeks of paid time off.
Ten company-paid holidays.
Medical plans with 100% employee coverage and 80% dependent coverage.
Dental and vision coverage with 90% employee and 80% dependent coverage.
FSA and 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, with company-covered meals when extra time or effort is required.
Fully stocked kitchen with unlimited snacks and drinks.
$100 monthly fitness stipend.
Onsite electric vehicle charging.