Senior Propulsion Engineer (Rocket Motor Soft Goods)

Castelion Corporation•Torrance, NM

About The Position

Castelion is seeking a Senior Propulsion Engineer to design and deliver rocket motor soft goods for its long-range hypersonic strike vehicles. The role focuses on ensuring reliable motor performance, structural integrity, and thermal protection through the design of liners, insulators, inhibitors, and related internal components. The engineer will work hands-on with multidisciplinary teams to design, analyze, build, and validate soft goods systems in a fast-paced, hardware-driven environment. The position may require access to classified information or restricted U.S. Government sites, systems, or information. If designated, employment may depend on obtaining and maintaining the required security clearance or other government authorization and meeting applicable citizenship or eligibility requirements. The position also requires access to export-controlled information without additional export licensing being required.

Requirements

Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.
At least 5 years of experience in rocket propulsion or high-temperature material systems, with a focus on soft goods or internal motor components.
Strong background in insulation materials, liners, and bonding systems used in solid rocket motors.
Experience with thermal protection materials and their behavior under high heat flux and pressure environments.
Familiarity with propellant compatibility, adhesion, and chemical interactions with soft goods materials.
Experience with material processing techniques for elastomers, ablatives, or composite insulation systems.
Proficiency in analysis and modeling tools such as MATLAB, ANSYS, or equivalent.
Experience with propulsion testing, data analysis, and failure investigation.
Strong problem-solving mindset and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, hardware-rich, high-test-cadence environment.
Ability to access applicable export-controlled information without additional export licensing; if the role is designated as requiring it, ability to obtain and maintain required government clearance or authorization and meet applicable eligibility requirements.

Responsibilities

Design and develop rocket motor soft goods, including liners, insulators, inhibitors, and internal thermal protection systems.
Lead the architecture and detailed design of soft goods systems to ensure compatibility with propellant, case materials, and motor operating conditions.
Perform thermal, chemical, and structural analyses to ensure performance and durability in high-temperature, high-pressure environments.
Develop and optimize material selections and formulations with materials and manufacturing teams.
Define and manage bonding strategies between propellant, liner, insulation, and motor case to ensure robust adhesion and prevent debonding.
Work with propulsion, structures, and manufacturing teams to integrate soft goods with the overall motor design.
Support material processing, fabrication, and quality control of soft goods components.
Plan and execute test campaigns, including subscale and full-scale motor testing, and analyze results to drive design improvements.
Conduct failure analysis and root cause investigations related to insulation performance, erosion, cracking, or debonding.
Mentor junior engineers and contribute to best practices in soft goods design and processing.
Partner with program leadership to make technical trades aligned with mission success.