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.
The Industrial Engineer I supports the Operational Excellence team in improving manufacturing operations, production workflows, and business systems that enable efficient company operations. Reporting to the Director of Operational Excellence, this role works cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, finance, and program teams to help optimize processes, improve operational performance, and support system-driven efficiency initiatives.
Key Responsibilities- Support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of operational processes across:
- Manufacturing & production operations
- Supply chain & procurement
- Quality systems & corrective actions
- Engineering change processes and production readiness
- Program and operational planning
- Assist with process mapping, workflow analysis, standard work documentation, and standard operating procedures (SOPs)
- Analyze production, operational, and business process data to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and improvement opportunities
- Support Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing waste, improving cycle time, increasing throughput, and enhancing quality
- Help maintain and improve operational systems such as ERP, MES, PLM, WMS, and related manufacturing/business tools
- Assist with data tracking, reporting, and KPI development for operational performance metrics
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve material flow, inventory accuracy, resource utilization, and production efficiency
- Support workflow automation, process standardization, and system integration efforts
- Participate in root cause analysis and corrective action activities related to operational and production issues
- Support implementation, testing, and user adoption of new operational processes and systems
- Ensure operational processes comply with company quality standards, safety requirements, and production objectives
- Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Systems Engineering, Operations Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
- 0–2 years of experience in industrial engineering, manufacturing, operations, process improvement, or related internship/co-op experience
- Basic understanding of Lean Manufacturing, process improvement, and operational efficiency principles
- Familiarity with manufacturing or business systems such as ERP, MES, PLM, or WMS through coursework, internships, or professional experience
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills
- Ability to work collaboratively across engineering, manufacturing, and operations teams
- Strong communication and documentation skills
- Internship or project experience in aerospace, defense, manufacturing, automotive, or other complex production environments
- Exposure to Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, or continuous improvement methodologies
- Experience with process mapping, workflow analysis, or industrial engineering tools
- Basic understanding of production planning, capacity analysis, or manufacturing operations
- Familiarity with data analysis and reporting tools such as Excel, Power BI, Tableau, or SQL
- Interest in operations optimization, systems thinking, and manufacturing efficiency initiatives
Industrial Engineer I: $84,460 to $119,892
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
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering or related field
- 0-2 years of experience in industrial engineering or related fields
- Basic understanding of Lean Manufacturing and process improvement principles
- Familiarity with manufacturing or business systems such as ERP, MES, PLM, or WMS
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills
- Ability to work collaboratively across teams
- Strong communication and documentation skills
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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