Technical Training & Competency Program Manager

Castelion Corporation•Torrance, CA

About The Position

The Technical Training & Competency Program Manager will build and lead the team responsible for scaling Castelion’s technical training and competency framework in a fast-moving defense technology design and manufacturing startup. This strategic and hands-on role owns the evolution of the initial program into a robust, scalable system as products, processes, and roles change. The manager will oversee how technical knowledge is captured, delivered, assessed, and tracked across engineering, manufacturing, and operations, laying groundwork for integration with HR, quality, technical grading, and career progression systems. The role includes building and leading the training team; defining competency expectations and training delivery methods; managing training systems, tools, content, records, and metrics; and partnering across engineering, manufacturing, operations, and HR. The manager will ensure training is aligned with company and customer requirements and is audit-ready for defense, safety, and quality needs. The position may require access to classified information or restricted U.S. Government sites, systems, or information, and access to export-controlled information. If applicable, employment may depend on obtaining and maintaining required government clearance or authorization and meeting citizenship or other eligibility requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Technical Education, or a related field.
At least 7 years of experience in technical training, manufacturing engineering, or operations roles.
At least 3 years leading training or competency programs or teams.
Proven experience building and leading technical training, qualification, or competency teams in manufacturing, engineering, or operations environments.
Strong technical aptitude across mechanical, electrical, and system-level domains.
Ability to work amid ambiguity while building practical systems for a diverse range of stakeholders.
Experience developing training tracking systems, databases, or LMS tools, whether formal or improvised.
Strong communication skills and ability to advise and influence without formal authority.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding environment.
Strong accountability and integrity.
Ability to communicate blockers proactively and manage stakeholder relationships tactfully.
Ability to recruit, mentor, and grow technical training staff and establish clear roles and expectations.

Nice To Haves

Experience in defense, aerospace, energetics, or other highly regulated technical industries.
Background in startup or rapid-growth environments.
Familiarity with skill-based grading, technical ladders, or competency frameworks.
Experience designing hands-on technical assessments tied to real production or test work.
Demonstrated commitment to lean, high-impact training without compromising safety or quality.
Experience applying processes, concepts, and materials from other industries to improve efficiency.

Responsibilities

Build and evolve the technical training and competency program from an early-stage organization into a program suitable for a defense production company.
Define skill-based training and competency expectations for engineering, manufacturing, and technical operations roles.
Implement practical, lightweight processes that balance rigor with startup speed.
Develop and maintain a multi-quarter training and competency roadmap aligned with product development, manufacturing ramp plans, and regulatory milestones.
Set priorities and allocate training team capacity across programs, production ramps, and compliance needs.
Build and lead the Technical Training and Competency team, establishing roles, responsibilities, and expectations.
Own hiring, onboarding, performance management, and development of team members; provide coaching and feedback and promote continuous learning and improvement.
Empower subject-matter experts and team members to own technical details while helping resolve issues and unblock execution as needed.
Oversee the evolution of training qualifications and competency structures as products and processes change.
Develop scalable hands-on, digital, blended, and SME-led training delivery methods.
Select, configure, and administer training tracking systems and tools, such as an LMS or databases, including planning for integration with HRIS and quality systems.
Ensure training data is audit-ready and defensible for defense, safety, and quality requirements; maintain version control and record retention.
Integrate safety, energetics, mechanical, electrical, and engineering requirements into training content that meets company and customer requirements.
Work with engineers and technical SMEs to capture tribal knowledge and incorporate it into training where appropriate.
Create and revise training materials alongside prototypes, production processes, and design changes, with controlled revisions.
Design and implement hands-on technical assessments tied to production or test work and aligned with competency levels.
Partner with HR on onboarding, workforce planning, and future career development frameworks.
Collaborate with department leaders to integrate training outcomes with technical grading and skill-based progression.
Provide leadership with visibility into training status, skill readiness, and risks through dashboards or reports.
Establish and own metrics for measuring training effectiveness, readiness, and risk.
Promote value-added training and process improvements as the company scales.
Maintain training documentation, standards, and operating practices, emphasizing clarity and usability.
Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for training-related nonconformances, audit findings, or operational incidents.
Refine the program based on feedback, audits, and operational outcomes.
Proactively communicate blockers, manage stakeholder relationships, and represent the company with regulators, suppliers, gatekeepers, and customers as needed.
Recruit, mentor, and develop technical training staff and build a culture of constructive feedback, continuous learning, and high performance.