Senior Test Engineer

Castelion Corporation•Torrance, CA

12h

About The Position

Castelion is moving incredibly fast to develop and deliver advanced defense systems at a time when execution matters more than ever. We believe focus and technical excellence are decisive advantages - and we are building a team that can deliver real capability, not just concepts. This is a rare opportunity to join at an early stage, where your work will directly shape critical systems, influence major technical decisions, and have immediate, real-world impact. We are seeking a Senior Test Engineer to lead testing activities for solid rocket motors (SRM) and integrated hypersonic strike vehicles at Castelion. This role is responsible for developing and executing test plans for static fire testing, environmental qualification, functional verification, and flight test support. You will work hands-on with propulsion hardware, instrumentation, data acquisition systems, and test infrastructure while ensuring the highest standards of safety, data quality, and mission success. Partnering closely with Propulsion, Manufacturing, Integration & Test, and Design teams, you will drive test readiness for prototype, qualification, and production hardware on aggressive development timelines for programs like Blackbeard.

Requirements

Bachelor's Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field
5 years of engineering test experience for solid rocket motors

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field.
6–10+ years of test engineering experience in aerospace or defense, with at least 3+ years focused on propulsion, solid rocket motors, or missile systems testing.
Proven track record developing and executing complex test programs from component through system level, including energetic or hazardous testing.
Strong hands-on experience with test instrumentation, data acquisition (e.g., LabVIEW, MATLAB, or similar), sensors (pressure transducers, accelerometers, thermocouples), and high-speed data systems.
Proficiency in test stand design, fixture development, and environmental test equipment (shakers, thermal chambers, etc.).
Experience with static fire testing, thrust measurement, and ballistic performance evaluation for solid rocket motors.
Working knowledge of safety protocols for energetic materials, ordnance handling, and high-pressure systems.
Familiarity with telemetry, flight test operations, and post-test data analysis tools.
Direct experience with solid rocket motor static fire testing or hypersonic propulsion testing on DoD or NASA programs.
Background in fast-paced environments (aerospace startups, SpaceX, Anduril, etc.).
Experience supporting production acceptance testing and scaling test operations for rate production.
Prior work at test ranges or with range safety processes.
Familiarity with ITAR-controlled programs and classified testing environments.
Strong technical problem-solving and analytical skills with a data-driven approach.
Excellent collaboration and communication abilities across engineering, manufacturing, and test teams.
Proven ability to lead test execution in high-stakes, safety-critical environments.
Mentoring mindset and willingness to develop junior engineers.
Organized, proactive, and comfortable managing multiple concurrent test activities under tight schedules.

Responsibilities

Lead the development of comprehensive test plans, procedures, and requirements for SRM static fires, environmental testing (vibration, thermal, shock, humidity), functional checkout, and vehicle-level integration testing.
Design, commission, and operate test fixtures, instrumentation setups, and data acquisition systems for thrust, pressure, temperature, vibration, and other critical parameters.
Execute and oversee static fire tests, environmental stress screening, and other qualification tests, ensuring safe operations with energetic materials and high-consequence hardware.
Perform real-time test monitoring, data reduction, analysis, and reporting; identify anomalies and lead root-cause investigations with cross-functional teams.
Support flight test campaigns, including pre-flight checkout, range coordination, telemetry monitoring, and post-flight data analysis.
Drive continuous improvement in test processes, safety protocols, and efficiency while integrating automation and digital tools for data capture and analysis.
Collaborate with Manufacturing and Propulsion on testability, design-for-test feedback, and hardware maturation from prototype to rate production.
Author and maintain test documentation, safety plans, and compliance records in accordance with DoD, range safety, and energetic materials standards.
Mentor junior test engineers and contribute to building robust test capabilities at Castelion facilities and partner ranges.
Manage test schedules, resources, and interfaces with internal teams, suppliers, and external test ranges.

Benefits

Meaningful equity for all full-time employees
Four (4) weeks of paid time off
Ten (10) company paid holidays
Plans at 100% employee covered and 80% of dependent coverage for Medical
Cover 90% employees and 80% for dependents for Dental & Vision
FSA/HSA options
401k plan
Paid Parental Leave: Birthing parents are eligible for up to 10 weeks of paid leave, while non-birthing parents may take up to 4 weeks of paid leave. This time can be used for pre-natal care, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical needs—ensuring every parent has the support they need during this important life moment. 8-weeks of paid parental leave for all parents. Additional paid pregnancy leave for CA employees
Frequently catered lunches and team meals, plus 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 available for employees