Lead Special Processes

Castelion Corporation•Torrance, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Castelion is seeking a Lead Special Processes to lead the development, qualification, and execution of specialized manufacturing processes for advanced aerospace and defense hardware. This full-time position is located at Castelion’s Torrance, California facility. The role provides technical leadership for processes such as precision drilling, painting, mechanical assembly, fabrication, integration, coating, heat treatment, surface preparation, and other operations applicable to the hardware. The Lead Special Processes partners with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and operations to mature robust processes, develop capable teams, and deliver safe, compliant, high-quality hardware on schedule. The position may require access to classified information or restricted U.S. Government sites, systems, or information. If designated, employment may be contingent on obtaining and maintaining the required security clearance or other government authorization and satisfying applicable citizenship or other eligibility requirements. The role also requires access to export-controlled information, so employment is contingent on the candidate being able to access applicable information without additional export licensing.

Requirements

At least 3 years of hands-on experience in special processes, production and/or R&D process development, or a related field.
At least 1 year of experience leading, mentoring, or coordinating the work of a special-process, manufacturing, or production team.
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, GD&T, CAD models, bills of material, work instructions, and technical documentation.
Working knowledge of process control, qualification, validation, inspection, traceability, and quality-system requirements for special processes.
Experience with one or more aerospace or high-reliability special processes, such as bonding, sealing, welding, brazing, coating, heat treatment, surface preparation, or non-destructive testing.
Ability to work effectively with engineering, quality, supply chain, and operations teams in a fast-paced R&D and production environment.
Ability to access applicable export-controlled information without additional export licensing.
If applicable to the position’s designation, ability to obtain and maintain required U.S. Government security clearance or other authorization and meet any applicable citizenship or eligibility requirements.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing or executing special processes for flight hardware or other safety-critical, high-reliability systems.
Experience with cleanroom or controlled-environment processing, ESD controls, FOD prevention, contamination control, or hazardous-material handling.
Experience creating or improving process specifications, work instructions, travelers, process-control plans, inspection plans, and qualification documentation.
Experience with process capability studies, statistical process control, measurement systems, and data-driven process improvement.
Experience with digital manufacturing, quality, inventory, or work-management systems and maintaining accurate process records.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate process status, risks, technical issues, and recommended actions clearly.
Demonstrated judgment, attention to detail, and commitment to safe, compliant, right-first-time execution.
Ability to coach others, establish priorities, and make sound decisions in a changing, high-output environment.
Experience with lean manufacturing, root-cause analysis, corrective action, or other continuous-improvement methods.
Ability to work from incomplete information and help mature special processes from research and development through initial production.

Responsibilities

Lead daily special-process activities, assign work, and coordinate priorities across the process team.
Train, mentor, and provide technical direction to technicians and operators while promoting ownership, safety, quality, and procedural compliance.
Interpret and execute engineering drawings, CAD models, specifications, process standards, work instructions, travelers, and controlled procedures.
Develop, document, and oversee special processes, including bonding, sealing, welding, brazing, coating, surface preparation, heat treatment, or other required process-specific operations.
Coordinate with design and manufacturing engineering to resolve process issues, provide producibility feedback, and implement design or process improvements.
Plan labor, materials, equipment, tooling, facilities, and work-cell readiness to maintain efficient and predictable process flow.
Establish and verify process parameters, acceptance criteria, inspection methods, and required records with quality and engineering.
Lead process qualification, validation, first-article, and capability activities; document results and ensure compliance with applicable specifications and procedures.
Investigate nonconformances, defects, and process deviations; perform or support root-cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions.
Maintain clean, organized, and appropriately controlled work areas, including cleanroom or contamination-controlled environments when required.
Drive continuous improvement in safety, quality, throughput, repeatability, standard work, tooling, and special-process capability.