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 Senior RF Test Engineer, reporting to the Director, RF Engineering, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. In this role, you will develop and deploy creative test solutions for complex RF communications and antenna systems for artificial gravity space stations, your work will be vital in testing new and existing RF hardware to support Vast’s mission. Help us make the communication systems that will advance human spaceflight!
This will be a full-time, exempt position in our Long Beach location.
Responsibilities:
- Work closely with RF and antenna engineers to design and build state of the art automated test systems for component level and vehicle level applications.
- Test automation software development for test instruments, data processing, test sequencing, and reporting.
- Define RF test system requirements and specifications.
- Support spacecraft RF test activities such as OTA, EMI/EMC, antenna pattern measurement, and system checkouts.
- Hands on environmental test for RF hardware (thermal cycling, TVAC, random vibration, shock, EMI/EMC, humidity, etc) as well as supporting spacecraft integration test in cleanroom facilities.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in ECE, EE, Physics, or related STEM discipline.
- 3+ years in an RF design and/or test role.
- Experience with RF test equipment such as Spectrum Analyzers, Vector Network Analyzers, Signal Generators, Communications Test Systems, Power Meters, etc.
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Master’s Degree in ECE, EE, Physics, or related stem discipline.
- Mission oriented mindset with a strong desire for team success.
- Comfortable communicating deeply technical topics to a wide variety of audiences.
- Experience with GNU Radio and software-defined radios (SDRs).
- Understanding of RF modulation and media access control schemes such as BPSK, SOQPSK, GMSK, APSK, TDMA, FDMA, etc.
- Familiarity with IP networking and ethernet connected test instruments.
- Experience with serial communication protocols such as CAN, SPI, and I2C, RS-422/485.
- Understanding of RF schematics and RF electronics manufacturing.
- Experience with software development: Matlab, LabVIEW, Python, C/C++, etc.
- Familiarity with space rated avionics test standards such as SMC-S-016, GSFC-STD-7000, MIL-STD-461, etc.
Additional Requirements:
- Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones
Pay Range:
- RF Test Engineer: $120,000 - $150,000
- Senior RF Test Engineer: $140,000 - $180,000
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
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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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