Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and low-cost approach. Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station to ensure a continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and unlocking a new space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Haven Demo’s 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Next, Haven-1 is expected to become the world’s first commercial space station when it launches in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules. Additionally, the company recently announced Vast Satellite, a high-power satellite product line leveraging its space station components and the heritage of Haven Demo.
Headquartered in Long Beach, California, and with more than 1,000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital, Vast has built the facilities required to manufacture and operate America’s next space station. The company plans to develop future habitats and systems for the Moon and Mars, dedicated space stations for government partners, and other crewed systems that will unlock the expanding long-term space economy.
Vast is looking for an Avionics Software Test Engineer, reporting to the Staff Avionics Software Test Engineer,, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of human-rated space stations.
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.
Responsibilities:
- Design and implement Python software for automated testing of flight-critical avionics hardware
- Manage the complete software lifecycle for avionics test systems, from initial development through qualification and acceptance testing of production hardware
- Integrate test equipment with avionics hardware under test, collaborating with Test Engineers and Avionics Responsible Engineers to resolve automation challenges
- Partner cross-functionally with hardware, test, and avionics teams to define test requirements and recommend test equipment solutions
- Create clear, comprehensive documentation and user guides for test engineer and technician handover
- Enhance and extend the existing Python test automation framework with new capabilities and tooling
- Diagnose and troubleshoot test anomalies, providing root cause analysis and resolution
- Conduct code reviews and drive accountability in following core software engineering principles
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering or other engineering / physical science discipline
- Proficiency in Object-Oriented Programming with Python
- Experience writing software to interface with instrumentation hardware (e.g. power supplies, measurement equipment, etc)
- Experience using Data Acquisition (DAQ) systems such as National Instruments or similar modular DAQ solutions
- Familiarity with software version control such as GitHub
- Experience with software unit testing and CI/CD
- Strong documentation and communication skills
- Proficiency in leveraging AI coding assistants and workflows to accelerate development, debug complex issues, and improve code quality
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Familiarity with NASA SMC-S-016 test requirements and standards
- Experience with AWS services and cloud-based development tools
- Practical experience operating power supplies, electronic loads, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and digital multimeters
- Knowledge of electronic instrumentation drivers using SCPI and pyVISA
- Comfortable working in Linux environments with understanding of kernel software and device drivers
- Experience with embedded systems and C++ programming
- Experience with network protocols and communication standards (TCP/UDP, DHCP, Ethernet) for instrument control and data acquisition
- Experience building web-based user interfaces or dashboards for test visualization and control (React, Angular, or similar frameworks)
Additional Requirements:
- Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones
We calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.
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: medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.
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.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or another engineering or physical science discipline
- Proficiency with object-oriented programming in Python
- Experience writing software that interfaces with instrumentation hardware, including power supplies and measurement equipment
- Experience using data acquisition systems such as National Instruments or similar modular DAQ solutions
- Familiarity with software version control such as GitHub
- Experience with software unit testing and CI/CD
- Strong documentation and communication skills
- Proficiency using AI coding assistants and workflows
- Familiarity with NASA SMC-S-016 test requirements and standards
- Experience with AWS services and cloud-based development tools
- Experience operating power supplies, electronic loads, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and digital multimeters
- Knowledge of electronic instrumentation drivers using SCPI and pyVISA
- Comfort working in Linux environments, including understanding kernel software and device drivers
- Experience with embedded systems and C++ programming
- Experience with TCP/UDP, DHCP, and Ethernet for instrument control and data acquisition
- Experience building web-based user interfaces or dashboards using React, Angular, or similar frameworks
- Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones
- U.S. person status or eligibility for deemed export licensing
What the Team is Saying
What We Do
Vast is developing next-generation space stations to ensure continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and unlocking a new space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Using an incremental, hardware-rich and low-cost approach, Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station. Haven Demo’s 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Next, Haven-1 is expected to become the world’s first commercial space station when it launches in 2026, followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030. With more than 1,000 employees at its Long Beach, California headquarters and over a billion dollars in private capital invested, Vast has built the facilities required to manufacture and operate America’s next space station. The company plans to develop future habitats for the Moon and Mars, dedicated space stations for government partners, and other crewed systems that will unlock the expanding long-term space economy.
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