Deputy Program Engineer, Hypersonic Strike

Deputy Program Engineer, Hypersonic Strike Torrance, California, United States Apply for Position Or refer someone Job Openings Deputy Program Engineer, Hypersonic Strike About the job Deputy Program Engineer, Hypersonic Strike Deputy Program Engineer, Hypersonic Strike Castelion is rapidly developing and delivering advanced defense systems at a time when execution and technical excellence matter more than ever. We move fast, focus hard, and build 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. Role Overview System-level trades for Blackbeard development test milestones and own configuration and release status for all Blackbeard development flights. Serve as the primary technical partner to the product Responsible Engineer, maintaining a vehicle-level understanding of the system and driving technical execution across the program. Set and maintain clear visibility into testing progress across the company including vehicle-level systems integration, propulsion, structures, avionics, GNC, software, payload, thermal, and ground systems. Responsibilities Own the objectives, success criteria, schedule, and vehicle configuration for each development test. Align these with program leadership and technical stakeholders.Own the integrated technical configuration for each development vehicle and mission, including top-level vehicle CAD, interfaces, configuration baselines, and design release status.Identify and resolve cross-functional technical issues, interface conflicts, and configuration gaps that could impact vehicle performance, build, test, or flight.Track and communicate vehicle technical maturity, schedule, critical-path risks, and readiness to the broader organization and program leadership.Lead vehicle and mission readiness reviews, ensuring technical risks, open work, deviations, and required decisions are clearly understood and driven to closure.Coordinate preflight engineering verification across all disciplines, ensuring required analyses, tests, inspections, and technical approvals are completed.Own or coordinate key customer technical data deliveries and mission-specific vehicle information.Ensure lessons learned from ground and flight testing are rapidly incorporated into subsequent vehicle configurations.Operate with broad authority across the program and drive issues to closure regardless of functional ownership. Basic Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical Engineering, or related field.8+ years of hands-on hardware design, testing, and supportDemonstrated project management and communication skillset across 100+ organizationsDemonstrated capability to evaluate system-level risk and develop test strategies aligned with and approved by the customer. Preferred Skills and Experience System integration and test for electromechanical hardware and softwareFlight vehicle test experience, first flights, rocketsDeep ownership mindset – reliably deliver extreme outcomes 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. Benefits And Perks All full-time employees are granted meaningful long-term equity, sharing in the company's significant growth trajectory. We offer four (4) weeks of paid time off, ten (10) company-paid holidays, and comprehensive health benefits - including 100% employee-covered medical and strong dependent coverage, along with dental and vision plans. We also provide paid parental leave to support growing families, a $100 monthly fitness stipend to promote health and performance, and onsite EV charging for convenience. In...