Senior R&D Technician - Mechanisms

Senior R&D Technician - Mechanisms

Torrance, California, United States

About the Job

Senior R&D Technician - Mechanisms

Castelion is bringing a new approach to defense development and production: one that focuses on short, iterative design cycles, rapid testing in development, and modern commercial manufacturing strategies for production at scale. We're designing, building, and testing next generation long range strike weapons systems to give America and its Allies a definitive edge and deter future conflicts.

As a Sr. R&D Technician - Mechanisms, you will play a key role in executing assembly builds for all CAS and TVCA components supporting flight and development activities in 2026. You will help establish production-ready processes, build out the production area, and implement the tools and mechanisms needed to efficiently produce assemblies at scale. This role is hands-on and critical to ensure timely, high-quality delivery of numerous vehicles throughout the year.

Responsibilities

• Execute on complex aerospace mechanism builds in support of Castelion's flight objectives.
• Bring mechanism build processes from development to production ready.
• Assist in developing tooling and infrastructure necessary to execute on production builds.
• Mentor lower-level engineers and technicians regarding industry best practice in developing manufacturing processes.
• Troubleshoot issues that arise during development builds and implement corrective actions.
• Perform simple rework operations on manual mills and lathes.
• Perform test set up necessary to characterize, ATP and qualify flight mechanisms.
• Run functional testing of flight mechanisms.
• Ensure shop equipment is well maintained and calibrated where necessary.

Basic Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate
• 5+ years of hands-on mechanical experience in one or more of the following: testing of aerospace/automotive systems, maintenance/troubleshooting complex mechanical systems, and/or fabrication/assembly of complex electromechanical systems.
• Ability to stand for extended periods
• Ability to lift up to 75 lbs
• Ability to walk throughout the facility and on uneven terrain
• Ability to climb ladders and in and out of motor vehicles
• Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands and arms
• Ability to work outdoors in both hot and cold climates

Preferred Skills and Experience

• 6+ years in aerospace manufacturing, with a focus on electro-mechanical mechanisms or complex mechanical assemblies.
• Associate degree
• A&P License.
• Demonstrated ability to read, interpret and work from drawings, controlled documentation and processes such as: layout drawings, mechanical drawings, assembly procedures/work instructions; schematics, engineering drawings, and parts list
• Experience with MES software.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• High proficiency with lathes and 3 axis mills.

Leadership Qualities

Bias to Action and Creative Problem Solving. Desire and experience questioning assumptions in ways that lead to break through ideas that are ultimately implemented. Successfully bring in applicable processes/concepts/materials from other industries to achieve efficiency gains. Ability to personally resolve minor issues in development without requiring significant support.

High Commitment, High Initiative. A successful candidate will have a genuine passion for Castelion's mission and consistently look for ways to contribute to the company's technical goals and prevent hardware blockers. Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere. Strong sense of accountability and integrity.

Clear Communicator. Proactively communicates blockers. Trusted in previous roles to be voice of company with regulators, suppliers, gate keepers and customers. Capable of tactfully managing relationships with stakeholders to achieve company-desired outcomes without compromising relationships. Emails, IMs and verbal interactions are logical, drive clarity, and detailed enough to eliminate ambiguity.

All employees are granted long-term stock incentives as part of their employment as Castelion. All employees receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental insurance, and the company offers three weeks of paid time off per year.

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.

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.