Materials & Process, Program Support Manager

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.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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
• Company Paid Holidays:
  Ten (10) company paid holidays
• 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…