Engineering Manager, Flight Software

About Castelion

Castelion is bringing a new approach to defense development and production: one that focuses on short, iterative design cycles, rapid testing in development, and modern commercial manufacturing strategies for production at scale. We're designing, building, and testing next generation long range strike weapons systems to give America and its Allies a definitive edge and deter future conflicts.

Software Engineering Manager (Flight Software)

As the Software Engineering Manager for Flight Software, you will lead and contribute to the development of flight software for Castelion's advanced missile systems. This is a hands-on technical leadership role, you'll architect, review, and write production-quality code while building the team, software infrastructure, and processes needed to deliver certifiable, flight-ready systems.

You'll guide the roadmap from prototype to certified production software, ensuring safety, reliability, and client confidence. Early on, you'll be deeply involved in software architecture, code reviews and integration; as the program scales, you'll grow and mentor a team around those foundations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and contribute hands-on to the design, implementation, and testing of real-time embedded flight software.
• Set technical standards for software design, safety, and reliability in mission-critical systems.
• Build and scale a high-performing software team and culture of excellence.
• Define and drive the software roadmap - from prototype through production certification.
• Establish robust development processes for coding, testing, integration, and continuous improvement.
• Conduct design and code reviews to ensure software quality, consistency, and maintainability.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with GNC, systems, and hardware engineers to ensure seamless integration.
• Lead verification and validation efforts, including simulation, HIL, and flight tests.
• Drive safety-critical certification efforts and help secure client buy-in through process maturity and rigor.
• Continuously evaluate emerging tools and technologies to enhance system performance and reliability.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelors or Masters degree in computer science, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in embedded software development, including technical leadership or team management experience.
• Strong command of C/C++ and experience with real-time systems and hardware-software integration.
• Experience defining and building software infrastructure, testing frameworks, and development pipelines.
• Familiarity with guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) systems or other flight-critical applications.
• Proven record of delivering reliable, safety-critical software for complex systems.
• Experience with simulation, hardware-in-the-loop, and flight testing.
• Strong understanding of software lifecycle management, version control, and CI/CD tools.
• US citizenship and ability to obtain a Top Secret security clearance.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience in defense, aerospace, or other safety-critical industries.
• Familiarity with certification processes (DO-178C, MIL-STD, etc.).
• Experience with embedded Linux and real-time operating systems (RTOS).
• Knowledge of secure software development and cybersecurity best practices.
• Exposure to agile or iterative development methodologies.

Leadership Qualities

• Bias to Action and Creative Problem Solving. Desire and experience questioning assumptions in ways that lead to break through ideas that are ultimately implemented. Successfully bring in applicable processes/concepts/materials from other industries to achieve efficiency gains. Have the ability to personally resolve minor issues in development without requiring significant support.
• High Commitment, High Initiative. A successful candidate will have a genuine passion for Castelion's mission and consistently look for ways to contribute to the company's technical goals and prevent hardware blockers. Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere. Strong sense of accountability and integrity.
• Clear Communicator. Proactively communicates blockers. Trusted in previous roles to be voice of company with regulators, suppliers, gate keepers and customers. Capable of tactfully managing relationships with stakeholders to achieve company-desired outcomes without compromising relationships. Emails, IMs and verbal interactions are logical, drive clarity, and detailed enough to eliminate ambiguity.
  

ITAR Requirements

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Employment with Castelion is governed on the basis of competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

All employee are granted long-term stock incentives as part of their employment at Castelion. All employees receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental insurance, and the company offers four weeks of paid time off per year.