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Castelion · 1 day ago

Lead Avionics Engineer - Flight Termination System

Torrance, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level

5+ years exp

Castelion is focused on innovative defense development and production strategies, designing advanced long-range strike weapon systems. The Lead Avionics Engineer will be responsible for the design, development, testing, and qualification of Flight Termination Systems to ensure safe flight termination when necessary.

AerospaceGovernmentManufacturingMilitaryNational Security

No H1B

U.S. Citizen Only

Hiring Manager

Julee Y.

Responsibilities

Own system and electrical architecture development and integration of Flight Termination System components (RF command interfaces, control boxes, electronic safe and arm devices, initiators, and destruct charges) for the Blackbeard vehicle

Define detailed system design, including component selection, system interconnect schematics, RF interfaces, consumable budgets, harness and channel capabilities, fault tolerance, and reliability

Execute system validation, including compatibility testing with range assets, system electrical testing in HITL, and flight test qualification

Collaborate closely with regulatory partners and Range Safety to develop and maintain a tailored set of requirements specific to the Blackbeard program that defines FTS certification

Design and analysis of safety-critical circuits for ordnance initiation and command destruct receivers

Define test plans, processes, fixturing, test sequences, and generate technical reports to show compliance to strict regulatory standards

Lead qualification and acceptance testing of components under rigorous test environments (shock, vibration, thermal cycle, etc.) that validate component reliability and functionality

Conduct analyses to support reliability data and reduced scope of testing

Generate and maintain detailed system & component documentation and specifications

Act as the technical expert for the overall system and piece-part components, leading component & system anomaly root cause investigations and with data-driven rationale to determine hardware disposition & corrective

Challenge applicability of baseline requirements through understanding the intent of the regulatory requirement versus solely the face value as-written requirement

Act as the responsible engineer for flightworthiness of the Flight Termination System all the way through launch, validating the as-built system is a GO for launch

Qualification

Electrical engineeringElectrical component designSystem level integrationRF link designHIL testingElectro-mechanical devicesMATLABPythonProject managementCommunication skillsProblem solving

Required

Bachelors degree in electrical engineering

5+ years of experience with electrical component design, system level integration of electronic components, or system level testing

Preferred

Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, enthusiasm for problem solving, and desire to optimize modern defense production

3+ years of experience designing and analyzing electrical systems via professional work experience, project/research-based student experience, or a combination of both

Strong background in RF link design and validation, including antenna integration, link budget analysis, and EMI/EMC mitigation for high-reliability environments

Skilled in designing low-noise, isolated power supplies, DCDC converters, and battery management systems for mission-critical hardware

Deep familiarity with U.S. range safety standards (AFSPCMAN 91710, RCC 319, NASA 8719) and certification processes with FAA/AST and DoD ranges

Experience designing, integrating, and troubleshooting FTS hardware with flight avionics, telemetry, and ordnance devices, including safe-arm devices and separation mechanisms

Hands-on leadership of vibration, thermal, shock, and EMI/EMC test campaigns per MILSTD810 and related aerospace standards

Proficient in hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, RF link verification, and fault injection testing for destruct command reliability

Strong project management skills and effective communication of technical concepts across multi-disciplinary teams

Leadership experience on a project or research team

Knowledge of electro-mechanical devices, actuators, motors, or explosives

Understanding of fundamental principles of explosives, solid mechanics, and dynamics

Experience with system design and testing for hardware sub-systems such as RF, power, communications, and sensors

Familiarity with electrical test equipment (multimeters, oscilloscopes, power supplies, etc.), and basic analysis techniques

Experience writing engineering software for test automation, data review, and design analysis, preferably in MATLAB or Python

Excellent verbal and written communication skills