Senior Warhead Design Engineer

rio rancho, nm

About the role

Why Castelion, Why Now 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. Senior Warhead Design Engineer Castelion is designing and building next-generation hypersonic weapon systems that restore stability through credible deterrence. We are seeking a hands-on, mission-driven Senior Warhead Design Engineer to lead the design, development, and integration of advanced next-generation systems for our long-range hypersonic strike vehicles. This is a high-impact role for someone with deep expertise in energetic devices and safe & arm mechanisms, who thrives in a fast-paced, hardware-rich development environment.

Responsibilities Own the design, development, and qualification of ordnance systems, including: Initiators, detonators, transfer charges, explosive bolts, safe & arm devices. Define

requirements and interface specifications across mechanical, electrical, and software boundaries. Lead supplier engagement, component selection, and build-to-print efforts with a focus on manufacturability, cost, and performance. Drive development test planning, execution, and analysis for ordnance systems (including arena testing, function testing, and environmental qualification). Work closely with systems, propulsion, avionics, and GNC teams to ensure ordnance components integrate safely and effectively into the full weapon system. Support FMEA, fault-tree analysis, and safety case development. Own documentation and compliance to MIL-STD-1316, MIL-STD-1910, AFSPCMAN 91-710, and other relevant standards. Basic

Qualifications B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field. 5+ years of experience in ordnance or energetics design, analysis, and test Familiarity with relevant DoD and NASA standards (e.g., MIL-STD-1316, MIL-STD-1901A, etc.). Hands-on test experience in high-consequence environments. Strong communication and documentation skills. Active or eligible for a U.S. security clearance. Preferred Skills and Experience Experience working with DoD customers and navigating military qualification processes. Background in hypersonics, missile systems, or space launch vehicles. CAD and mechanical analysis experience (e.g., SolidWorks, FEA tools). Experience with additive manufacturing tools and capabilities. Prior experience working at a defense startup or fast-moving development organization. Other Duties Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or

responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties,

responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits And

Perks All full-time employees are granted meaningful long-term equity, sharing in the company's significant growth trajectory. We offer four (4) weeks of paid time off, ten (10) company-paid holidays, and comprehensive health

benefits - including 100% employee-covered medical and strong dependent coverage, along with dental and vision plans. We also provide paid parental leave to support growing families, a $100 monthly fitness stipend to promote health and performance, and onsite EV charging for convenience. In addition, employees enjoy

perks like catered meals, company-covered food during high-demand periods, and a fully stocked kitchen to stay fueled throughout the day. While this position does not currently require a U.S government-issued security clearance, it may in the near future. Therefore, the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government–issued security clearance is required. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance. Affirmative Action/EEO Statement Employment with Castelion is governed on the basis of competence and

qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

About Castelion

Castelion is a modern defense production company building long-range hypersonic strike systems to address a critical national security gap. Founded in 2021, Castelion was created in response to the recognized need for the United States to rapidly develop hypersonic capabilities to remain competitive with near-peer adversaries and deter future conflicts.

The company operates under the philosophy of "Peace through Deterrence" — building the weapons systems that ensure conflicts never need to happen. Castelion is one of the few companies in the hypersonics space that has moved beyond concepts to actual production deliverables, with government contracts across multiple branches of the military and a $23M+ Navy order for 50 units in calendar year 2027.

Backed by over $469M in funding from top-tier investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and General Catalyst, Castelion is scaling rapidly. The company is building what it anticipates will become the preeminent hypersonics campus in the country — including a $150M, 1,000-acre solid rocket motor manufacturing facility in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, alongside its headquarters in Torrance, California.

Castelion's culture is defined by technical excellence, ownership, and velocity. Engineers own meaningful subsystems on the vehicle and are responsible for driving their success. The company follows a responsible engineering model inspired by SpaceX, where individuals choose the highest-value work and are empowered to cultivate resources and partnerships to deliver results. The engineering bar is exceptionally high — attracting elite talent who want to be surrounded by other elite talent.

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Job details

Location

rio rancho, nm

Company

NameCastelion
Industrydefense, manufacturing, hardware, robotics
Team Size300

Funding

Total raised

$464M

Last stage

Growth

Investors

AAltimeter Capital
Lightspeed Venture Partners
Andreessen Horowitz
General Catalyst
LLavrock Ventures

Founders

Bryon Hargis

Bryon Hargis

Co-Founder & CEO

LinkedIn
SP

Sean Pitt

Co-Founder & COO

AK

Andrew Kreitz

Co-Founder & CFO

What happens next.

No applications, no recruiter spam. Just the intro.

01

Confirm the fit

A few questions to make sure this role is the right shape for you. Two minutes.

02

I pitch you to the company

I write the intro, send it to the founder, and handle the back-and-forth.

03

A meeting lands on your calendar

If they’re a yes, I book the chat. You show up — that’s the whole job-hunt.