Lead Special Processes at Castelion in Torrance, CA

Job description

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, ownership, and excellence are decisive advantages - and we're building a world-class team to turn bold ideas into real capability. This is a rare opportunity to join at an early stage, where you'll have significant ownership, collaborate with exceptional teammates, and make a direct, measurable impact on our mission and the future of the company - regardless of your function. Lead Special Processes Castelion is seeking a Lead Special Processes to lead the development, qualification, and execution of specialized manufacturing processes for advanced aerospace and defense hardware. This is a full-time position located at our Torrance, CA facility. The Lead Special Processes Role will provide technical leadership for processes such as precision drilling, painting, mechanical assembly, fabrication, integration, coating, heat treatment, surface preparation, and other operations as applicable to the hardware. This role partners closely with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and operations to mature robust processes, develop capable teams, and deliver safe, compliant, high-quality hardware on schedule. Responsibilities Lead daily special-process activities, assigning work and coordinating priorities across the process team Train, mentor, and provide technical direction to technicians and operators while promoting a culture of ownership, safety, quality, and procedural compliance Interpret and execute engineering drawings, CAD models, specifications, process standards, work instructions, travelers, and controlled procedures Develop, document, and oversee special processes, including bonding, sealing, welding, brazing, coating, surface preparation, heat treatment, or other process-specific operations as required Coordinate with design and manufacturing engineering to resolve process issues, provide producibility feedback, and implement design or process improvements Plan labor, materials, equipment, tooling, facilities, and work-cell readiness to maintain an efficient and predictable process flow Establish and verify process parameters, acceptance criteria, inspection methods, and required records in partnership with quality and engineering Lead process qualification, validation, first-article, and capability activities; document results and ensure compliance with applicable specifications and procedures Investigate nonconformances, defects, and process deviations; perform or support root-cause analysis and implement effective corrective and preventive actions Maintain clean, organized, and appropriately controlled work areas, including cleanroom or contamination-controlled environments when required Drive continuous improvement in safety, quality, throughput, repeatability, standard work, tooling, and special-process capability Basic Qualifications 3+ years of hands-on experience in special processes, production and/or R&D process development, or a related field 1+ years of experience leading, mentoring, or coordinating the work of a special-process, manufacturing, or production team Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, GD&T, CAD models, bills of material, work instructions, and technical documentation Working knowledge of process control, qualification, validation, inspection, traceability, and quality-system requirements for special processes Experience with one or more aerospace or high-reliability special processes, such as bonding, sealing, welding, brazing, coating, heat treatment, surface preparation, or non-destructive testing Ability to work effectively with engineering, quality, supply chain, and operations teams in a fast-paced research and development and production environment Preferred Skills and Experience Experience developing or executing special processes for flight hardware or other safety-critical, high-reliabil