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 Quality Engineer, reporting to the E-2 Principal Engineer, to create the world's highest performing engine for small launchers, while optimizing for production and low cost. 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:
- Define and implement quality methodologies
- Hands on dimensional inspection skills using mechanical tools
- Identify and track manufacturing non-conformities and proactively work with manufacturing and engineering to address them
- Use expertise to contribute to the prevention of defects and non-conformities, ultimately reducing the likelihood of recalls and/or customer complaints.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives by analyzing quality data, identifying trends, and implementing corrective and preventive actions to enhance the overall quality of our products and reduce costs.
- CMM programming skills
- Create and define technical and quality requirements based on customer and program requirements and expectations for NPI and manufacturing phases.
- Exert expert domain knowledge and effectively apply root cause analysis, FMEA, Cause Mapping, Cause & Effect diagrams, 8D, 5S and structured RCCA to drive effective and meaningful corrective action.
- Develop and approve process controls to regulate acceptance of critical characteristics.
- Recommend technical product improvements to reduce risk and potential defect opportunities and provide feedback as appropriate on manufacturing methods and technologies.
Minimum Qualifications:
- 5+ years experience with demand fast paced company working on quality, manufacturing or responsible engineer role
- Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or other engineering discipline
- Expert knowledge and experience in GD&T, CMM, MSA, Tooling, AS9100, AS9102, AS9103.
- Proficient in Blueprint Reading and First Article Inspection (FAI) and interpretation of Engineering Process Specifications.
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Master's degree in engineering, business, or supply chain.
- Certified Black / Green belt lean and Six-Sigma quality engineering methodologies.
- Experience with Quality Management Systems (ISO 9000 / AS9100 / AS6500 / NADCAP).
- Experience in statistical controls and methods (e.g. MSA, GR&R, Design of Experiments, Six Sigma, etc.).
- Ability to thrive in a fast paced environment.
- Effective written, verbal and presentation communication skills.
Additional Requirements:
- Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted.
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
- 5+ years experience in quality, manufacturing or responsible engineer role
- Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or other engineering discipline
- Expert knowledge in GD&T, CMM, MSA, Tooling, AS9100, AS9102, AS9103
- Proficient in Blueprint Reading and First Article Inspection (FAI)
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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