Program Manager at Castelion in Torrance, CA

Job description

• As a Program Manager, you will lead the execution of advanced hypersonic weapon programs from initial concept through delivery, serving as the primary interface with U.S. Government customers and internal engineering teams. You will own program schedules, contractual commitments, and mission success, driving efforts from proposal through design, integration, flight test, and fielding.
• This is a hands-on program leadership role in a rapidly evolving startup environment where you will be tasked to lead multiple ongoing programs of varying sizes and complexity. You will operate at the intersection of engineering, program management, and customer engagement, ensuring that Castelion's weapon systems meet the needs of our customers.

Responsibilities

• Program Leadership: Serve as the primary customer interface, ensuring alignment between mission requirements and Castelion's technology roadmap.
• Program Execution: Manage cost, schedule, and technical performance from contract award through integration, test, and deployment, delivering on all contractual milestones.
• Proposal & Contract Management: Lead proposal efforts and contract negotiations, ensuring technical feasibility, cost effectiveness, and compliance with FAR/DFARS requirements.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with engineering to translate mission needs into product requirements, guide design reviews, and manage technical or contractual changes.
• Customer Engagement: Lead program reviews, present technical and schedule briefings, negotiate requirements, and maintain strong relationships with government stakeholders.
• Risk Management: Identify program risks early, develop mitigation plans, and maintain schedule fidelity under aggressive timelines.
• Strategic Development: Shape new opportunities and architectures by collaborating with government and industry partners to inform future hypersonic strike capabilities.

Requirements

• Bachelors degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Excellent communication and technical writing skills, including preparation of CDRLs and technical data packages.
• 8+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, or national security programs.
• Proven track record of excellence and achievement.
• Deep familiarity with USG programs, acquisitions, and operational concepts.
• Strong understanding of U.S. Government acquisition processes, contracting, and operational concepts.
• Demonstrated success managing complex, multi-disciplinary engineering programs to cost and schedule.
• U.S. citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI clearance.
• Experience in a fast-moving environment with compressed timelines.
• Familiarity with government acquisition processes, requirements decomposition, and systems verification.
• Familiarity with rapid prototyping, OTA contracts, and accelerated development environments.
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance.

Skills

Required

• Excellent communication skills
• Technical writing skills
• Program management
• Cost and schedule management
• Technical performance management
• Proposal and contract management
• FAR/DFARS compliance
• Risk management
• Systems engineering
• Requirements decomposition
• Systems verification

Benefits

• Castelion offers a generous benefits package. Please refer to the bottom of our Careers page for more details.