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 a Controls & Automation Engineer, to help develop the systems behind our human-rated space stations. You will drive the development and execution of human-rated vehicle processes as Haven-1 transitions from design to a flight-ready station.
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach, CA location.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and maintain a data acquisition and controls stack to support a wide range of partnering test teams at the Long Beach site—creating software tools and setting standards for test assets and practices.
- Design, implement, and own complex control systems for testing space-rated hardware, with responsibility for both hardware and software components.
- Collaborate across disciplines—including software, thermal, manufacturing, propulsion, ECLSS, and mechanical test teams—to drive robust testing practices, gather upgrade requests, and define new capabilities for the test stack.
- Troubleshoot and debug test assets to resolve issues quickly and ensure optimal test system performance.
Minimum Qualifications:
- B.S. in mechanical, aerospace, manufacturing or electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, or a related technical field.
- Manufacturing experience (including internships) managing a product/product line across multiple work centers and/or departments, fluid, pressurized, propulsion, or environmental control hardware in design, manufacturing, or test.
- 2-4+ years of experience for Manufacturing Engineer II
- 4-6+ years of experience for Senior Manufacturing Engineer
- Hands-on fabrication, assembly, and/or integration experience; CAD proficiency (NX preferred).
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Hands-on experience building or testing hardware, in industry or through student teams such as Formula SAE, rocketry, CubeSat, or robotics.
- Experience with aerospace, spacecraft, propulsion, or other safety-critical or high-reliability hardware.
- Experience taking designs or processes from concept through build or test, and from R&D to production.
- Familiarity with CAD tools, ideally Siemens NX, and PLM tools such as Teamcenter.
- Exposure to thermal or structural analysis using Ansys, or similar tools.
- Awareness of aerospace workmanship, design, and environmental test standards such as IPC, SMC-S-016, NASA-STD-5001, or MIL-STD-810.
- Proficiency applying GD&T.
- Strong problem-solving skills, including troubleshooting and structured root cause analysis.
- Strong attention to detail, clear communication, and the ability to work well in cross-functional teams.
- Senior Level: experience mentoring engineers or technicians and managing multiple projects at once.
Additional Requirements:
- Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones.
- Engineer/ Level I: $86,100.00 - $122,220.00
- Engineer/ Level II: $112,340.00 - $159,468.00
- Senior Engineer/ Level III: $137,760.00 - $195,552.00
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.
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 mechanical, aerospace, manufacturing, or electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, or a related technical field
- Manufacturing experience managing a product or product line across multiple work centers or departments, or experience with fluid, pressurized, propulsion, or environmental control hardware in design, manufacturing, or test
- 2-4+ years of experience for Engineer Level II / Manufacturing Engineer II
- 4-6+ years of experience for Senior Engineer Level III / Senior Manufacturing Engineer
- Hands-on fabrication, assembly, and/or integration experience
- CAD proficiency, preferably Siemens NX
- Hands-on hardware building or testing experience in industry or through student teams such as Formula SAE, rocketry, CubeSat, or robotics
- Experience with aerospace, spacecraft, propulsion, safety-critical, or high-reliability hardware
- Experience taking designs or processes from concept through build or test, and from research and development to production
- Familiarity with Siemens NX or similar CAD tools and PLM tools such as Teamcenter
- Exposure to thermal or structural analysis using Ansys or similar tools
- Awareness of aerospace workmanship, design, and environmental test standards including IPC, SMC-S-016, NASA-STD-5001, or MIL-STD-810
- Proficiency applying GD&T
- Strong problem-solving skills, troubleshooting ability, and structured root-cause analysis experience
- Strong attention to detail, clear communication, and ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams
- Senior-level experience mentoring engineers or technicians and managing multiple projects simultaneously
- Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones
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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