Materials & Process, Program Support Manager

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. Castelion is seeking an M&P Program Support Manager to lead the planning, execution, and delivery of all materials and processes (M&P) qualification testing for a hypersonic vehicle program. This individual will be responsible for managing the M&P team, ensuring full ownership of qualification strategy, test execution, and certification readiness for government customers. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong program leadership, deep familiarity with aerospace qualification frameworks, and the ability to integrate cross‑functional efforts across engineering, manufacturing, test, and program management. This role requires both technical fluency in materials engineering and the ability to drive complex qualification campaigns to schedule, cost, and performance targets. Responsibilities Lead the M&P program support team – manage personnel, priorities, and performance to ensure successful execution of all qualification scope. Own end-to-end qualification strategy – define test plans, requirements, and certification pathways for all materials and processes used in the vehicle. Drive execution of qualification testing – oversee internal and external test campaigns, ensuring data quality, traceability, and compliance with applicable standards. Serve as primary interface to program leadership and government stakeholders on all M&P qualification matters. Coordinate cross-functionally with vehicle engineering, manufacturing, flight sciences, and quality teams to ensure materials and processes meet performance and producibility requirements. Manage risk and schedule – identify qualification risks early and implement mitigation strategies to maintain program timelines. Ensure documentation and compliance – deliver complete qualification reports, material allowables, and certification packages in accordance with customer and regulatory requirements. Support continuous improvement – refine qualification methodologies, test efficiencies, and data management systems to improve speed and reliability of future programs. Basic Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in materials science/engineering, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or related discipline. 3+ years of experience in aerospace materials engineering, qualification testing, or program management. Preferred Skills and Experience 6+ years of experience in aerospace materials engineering, qualification testing, or program management. Demonstrated experience leading qualification or certification efforts for aerospace or defense programs. Strong understanding of material systems, processing methods, and structure-property relationships relevant to high-performance environments. Experience with qualification standards (e.g., MIL, NASA, ASTM) and test program execution. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex technical programs. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience interfacing with government customers. Must be authorized to work in the U.S. and comply with ITAR eligibility requirements. Employee Equity: Meaningful equity for all full-time employees - share value has increased 150x in three years Personal Time Off: Four (4) weeks of paid time off to unplug, reset, and come back sharp—velocity matters, burnout doesn’t Medical: We offer plans at 100% employee covered and 80% of dependent coverage Dental & Vision: We cover 90% employees and 80% for dependents to ensure you and your family have access to quality preventive and ongoing care FSA/HSA: To support long-term health and financial resilience, we offer FSA and HSA options that allow employees to set aside pre-tax dollars for eligible medical and dependent care expenses Retirement: 401k plan offered to support long term financial growth along side high-impact, high-velocity work Paid Parental Leave: We support growing families with meaningful time to bond and recover. 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 Meals & Catering: Frequently catered lunches and team meals, plus company-covered meals when extra time or effort is required Snacks & Beverages: Fully stocked kitchen with unlimited snacks and drinks to keep you fueled throughout the day Performance & Fitness: $100 monthly fitness stipend to support peak performance and health, both inside and outside of work EV Charging: Onsite electric vehicle charging available for employees Physical Demands Must be willing to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed Must be able to travel up to 30% Must be able to lift more than 50lbs To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. This position may require access to classified information or restricted U.S. Government sites, systems, or information, as determined by the Company and/or applicable U.S. Government requirements. If the position is so designated, your employment in the role may be contingent upon your ability to obtain and maintain the required U.S. Government security clearance or other government authorization, and to satisfy any citizenship or other eligibility requirements imposed by applicable law, regulation, executive order, or government contract requirements. You will be notified if and when such requirements apply. Failure to obtain or maintain any required clearance or authorization may result in reassignment, leave, or separation from employment, consistent with business needs and applicable law. 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. 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr Castelion