Lead Mechanisms Engineer

About Castelion

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.

Lead Mechanisms Engineer

We're looking for a Lead Mechanisms Engineer to guide the development and integration of actuation systems across our missile programs. In this role, you'll lead a small, cross-functional team that owns the design, integration, and validation of servo systems providing fin control, thrust vector control, and other critical actuation functions.

This position combines technical leadership with hands-on engineering. You'll set the direction for the team, ensure designs meet system requirements, and provide mentorship while remaining directly engaged in modeling, integration, and testing. Your work will span mechanical, electrical, and software domains to deliver reliable, high-bandwidth systems that can survive the harsh realities of flight.

This is a high-impact role your team's system will be on flight hardware within months, not years.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of engineers responsible for missile control actuation systems.
• Architect, design, and implement closed-loop electromechanical control systems (servo loops, fin actuators, thrust vector control, etc.).
• Select, integrate, and tune motors, sensors, drivers, and control electronics.
• Oversee dynamic modeling and analysis of control system stability, responsiveness, and robustness.
• Drive bench-level, HWIL, and full-system testing to verify performance under real-world loads.
• Partner closely with GNC, Propulsion, Avionics, and Test teams to ensure end-to-end integration and flight readiness.
• Own subsystem reliability and support flight test operations, including troubleshooting and post-flight analysis.
• Provide technical guidance in areas spanning firmware/software integration, motor controllers, and electronics.

Basic Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace Engineering or related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in electromechanical systems, actuator design, and servo control.
• Demonstrated experience leading or mentoring technical teams.
• Deep knowledge of sensors (encoders, resolvers), brushless motors, motor drivers, and embedded control loops.
• Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink and C/C++ for control implementation and tuning.
• Hands-on experience integrating hardware, conducting lab testing, and supporting field deployments.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Prior experience in missile systems, guided projectiles, or aerospace actuators
• Familiarity with thrust vector control, fin actuation, or RCS systems
• Knowledge of high-speed real-time control, signal conditioning, and EMI mitigation
• Exposure to flight test environments and anomaly resolution

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. The 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.

ITAR Requirements

• 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.

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.

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