Senior Structural Dynamics Engineer
At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. We are building artificial gravity space stations, allowing long-term stays in space without the adverse effects of zero-gravity. Our initial crewed space habitat will be Haven-1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station when it launches into low earth orbit in August 2025. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.
Vast is looking for a Senior Structural Dynamics Engineer, reporting to the Lead Structural Dynamics Engineer, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.
The structural dynamics group is responsible for low and high-frequency load & environment predictions for all Vast space stations during ground transportation, ascent, and on-orbit operations. This role will be responsible for generating frequency-based design and test requirements in quasi-statics, random vibrations, shock, and acoustics. Candidates should have strong skills in frequency domain analysis, test planning, and high-speed data processing.
Responsibilities:
- Own statistical energy analysis (SEA) and modeling techniques
- Assist product groups with vibration and shock requirement tailoring and test verification
- Assess heritage test data against in-house predictions and capabilities
- Develop post-processing tools for dynamic analyses and tests
- Build, maintain, and correlate dynamic FEMs based on gathered test data
- Help plan and support system sine, random, and acoustic verification testing
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor degree in Mechanical or Aerospace engineering
- 5+ years of professional experience in loads and environment prediction
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Hands-on test experience in vibration labs
- Experience in SEA modeling and acoustic analysis
- Familiar with Femap/NASTRAN
- Ability to explain structural dynamic concepts to other engineering functions
- Working understanding of a design load cycle and how it relates to analysis and test
- Knowledge of spacecraft launch load environments and industry standard documents (SMC-S-016, GSFC-STD-7000A, MIL-STD-810G, etc.)
- Ability to research and pathfind answers to structural dynamic problems
- Excellent visual data communication skills
Additional Requirements:
- Ability to travel up to 10% of the time for testing
- Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones
Salary Range: California
$150,000—$170,000 USD
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, flexible paid time off for exempt staff and up to 15 days of vacation for non-exempt staff, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, free catered meals and snacks and beverages, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, One Medical membership, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks.
U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS
The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast is governed on the basis of merit, 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.