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 2026. It is part of our stepping stone approach to continuous human presence in LEO. 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 Manufacturing Engineer, reporting to the E-2 Principal Engineer, 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 join a team with exciting momentum that has produced and successfully tested fully integrated engine development samples. You will be a key member who will help transition the system from development to production.
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Hawthorne location.
Responsibilities:
- Hands on collaboration with the design team to transfer knowledge and provide input on the manufacturability and assembly processes for E-2 engine.
- Create and maintain detailed manufacturing plans, assembly procedures, and work instructions to ensure consistent and accurate production.
- Support MBOM transition to MES.
- Support manufacturing shop layout.
- Work closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering and quality, to ensure seamless integration of manufacturing processes.
- Specify and procure dedicated manufacturing and tools and equipment.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
- 5+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment.
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.
- Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T).
- Strong attention to detail and a commitment to producing high-quality work.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to perform root cause analysis.
- General ‘making’ skills (Machining, CNC, welding, assembly.)
- Flexibility to work overtime and adapt to a varying schedule.
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
Top Skills
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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