Senior Warhead Design Engineer

Rio Rancho, United States | Posted on 08/06/2026

Castelion was founded to restore America’s ability to field advanced weapons at speed and scale. Inspired by the engineering urgency of the WWII and Apollo eras, we combine rapid iteration, vertical integration, and scalable manufacturing to deliver affordable, high-performance strike systems. Our mission: rebuild industrial agility to strengthen national security and outpace evolving threats.

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.

• 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.

• 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., Solid Works, FEA tools).
• Experience with additive manufacturing tools and capabilities. Prior experience working at a defense startup or fast-moving development organization.
• Employee Equity:
  Meaningful equity forall full-time employees - share value has increased 150x in three years
• Personal Time Off:
  Four (4) weeks of paidtime 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 usedfor pre-natal care, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical needs—ensuring every parent has the support they need during thisimportant 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 timeor 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 insideand outside of work
• EV Charging:
  Onsite electric vehicle charging available for employees