At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. We are building artificial gravity space stations, allowing long-term stays in space without the adverse effects of zero-gravity. Our initial crewed space habitat will be Haven-1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station when it launches into low earth orbit in May 2026. 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 Controls & Automation Engineer, reporting to the Senior Manager of Station Testing, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach 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.
- Contribute to the architecture of the test data pipeline, ensuring end-to-end data traceability, integrity, and reliability. Working closely with our Ground Software, networking and IT teams.
- 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:
- Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or other engineering discipline
- 5+ years of applied experience with programmable logic controllers or similar embedded systems.
- Working knowledge of supporting engineering skills (Wire Harnessing, electrical diagrams, signal processing)
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- 5+ years of experience with TwinCat programming and Beckhoff hardware.
- Understanding of various programming languages (Python, C/C++, Rust, etc.)
- Execution experience of the processes behind spaceflight testing (ATP/QTP)
- 4+ years of professional experience rapidly designing highly reliable products.
- 5+ years of professional experience testing, troubleshooting and debugging mechanical and electrical issues.
- Hands-on skills (Wiring, Machining, Soldering, Fabricating)
Additional Requirements:
- Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones
- Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted
Pay Range:
- Senior Controls and Automation Engineer: $135,000 - $170,000
- Staff Controls and Automation Engineer: $160,000 - $200,000
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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