At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. Vast is developing next-generation space stations 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. 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, followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030. 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(n) Director, Sub Assemblies Manufacturing, reporting to the Vice President of Manufacturing, 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:
- Define and execute the manufacturing strategy for mechanical subassemblies, Thermal Control Systems (TCS), and Environmental Control & Life Support Systems (ECLSS), aligning manufacturing capability with spacecraft performance, build schedules, and mission objectives.
- Lead cross-functional manufacturing execution across engineering, quality, supply chain, and test to drive production readiness, resolve manufacturing constraints, and enable successful hardware delivery.
- Translate program requirements and build cadence into manufacturing operating models, resource plans, factory layouts, work center architecture, and capacity roadmaps.
- Drive Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and Design for Test (DFT) through early engagement with engineering, influencing product architecture, interface definitions, test access, tolerance schemes, and manufacturing risk before release.
- Own prototype-to-production transitions by establishing manufacturing work centers, qualifying tooling and processes, developing production documentation, and enabling repeatable flight hardware production.
- Develop make/buy strategies and manufacturing capability roadmaps, determining which subassemblies, fabrication processes, and test operations should be vertically integrated versus outsourced.
- Establish manufacturing quality standards and production readiness gates, ensuring compliance with AS9100, NASA human-rated requirements, and disciplined configuration control throughout the hardware lifecycle.
- Drive manufacturing performance through digital production systems and data analytics, leveraging MES, Jira, Tableau, and operational metrics to improve throughput, yield, nonconformance resolution, and factory performance.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives across mechanical assembly, tubing, thermal systems, and ECLSS manufacturing by applying lean principles, standard work, and production system optimization to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
- Build, mentor, and develop high-performing manufacturing engineering, test engineering, and technician organizations while establishing the manufacturing culture, operating rhythm, and technical standards required to scale future spacecraft production.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field.
- 10+ years of experience leading manufacturing engineering or production organizations responsible for complex hardware from development through production, including 8+ years of people leadership.
- Demonstrated expertise manufacturing complex mechanical assemblies, fluid systems, thermal hardware, tubing, or other high-reliability electromechanical systems.
- Proven experience driving Design for Manufacturability (DFM), production readiness, manufacturing process development, and prototype-to-production transitions.
- Experience building and scaling manufacturing organizations, including work center design, production ramp, capacity planning, and cross-functional execution with engineering, quality, and supply chain.
- Working knowledge of regulated manufacturing systems (AS9100, NASA, or equivalent), manufacturing documentation, inspection methods, contamination control, and production test.
- Experience applying lean manufacturing principles and modern manufacturing systems (CAD, PLM, MES/ERP, or similar) to improve quality, throughput, and operational performance.
- Strong technical judgment, communication, and leadership skills with the ability to influence engineering decisions and solve complex manufacturing challenges.
Preferred Skills and Experience:
- Experience standing up new manufacturing capabilities, factories, or production lines from early development through sustained production.
- Experience supporting spacecraft, launch vehicle, aviation, defense, energy, automotive, or other highly regulated hardware manufacturing environments.
- Experience developing make/buy strategies, supplier qualification plans, and vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities.
- Demonstrated ability to lead organizations through ambiguity, shifting program priorities, and aggressive development schedules while maintaining execution.
- Track record of building high-performing manufacturing engineering teams and developing future technical and people leaders.
- Experience driving digital manufacturing initiatives, automation, advanced manufacturing technologies, or factory modernization efforts.
Additional Requirements:
- Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones.
- Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted.
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 Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing Engineering, or related technical field
- 10+ years leading manufacturing engineering or production organizations for complex hardware from development through production
- 8+ years of people leadership
- Demonstrated expertise manufacturing complex mechanical assemblies, fluid systems, thermal hardware, tubing, or high-reliability electromechanical systems
- Proven experience driving DFM, production readiness, manufacturing process development, and prototype-to-production transitions
- Experience building and scaling manufacturing organizations, work center design, production ramp, and capacity planning
- Working knowledge of regulated manufacturing systems (AS9100, NASA, or equivalent), manufacturing documentation, inspection methods, contamination control, and production test
- Experience applying lean manufacturing principles and modern manufacturing systems (CAD, PLM, MES/ERP) to improve quality and throughput
- Strong technical judgment, communication, and leadership skills with ability to influence engineering decisions
- Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones
- Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted
- Experience standing up new manufacturing capabilities, factories, or production lines from development through sustained production
- Experience supporting spacecraft, launch vehicle, aviation, defense, energy, automotive, or other highly regulated hardware manufacturing environments
- Experience developing make/buy strategies and supplier qualification plans
- Track record of building high-performing manufacturing engineering teams and developing future technical and people leaders
- Experience driving digital manufacturing initiatives, automation, advanced manufacturing technologies, or factory modernization efforts
- Demonstrated ability to lead through ambiguity and shifting program priorities while maintaining execution
Vast Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Vast and has not been reviewed or approved by Vast.
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Healthcare Strength — Company materials describe comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents from day one, alongside primary care and mental‑health programs. These provisions are repeatedly emphasized as a core part of the total rewards package.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Information highlights generous PTO with an annual cash‑out option, paid parental leave, sick time, and company holidays, with flexible PTO for exempt staff. These features indicate broad time‑off support across multiple needs.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Onsite meals and snacks, fitness memberships or stipends, and wellness resources (e.g., One Medical and Spring Health) are prominently offered. Such perks appear designed to enhance daily work experience and overall wellbeing.
Vast Insights
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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