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 Systems 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.
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.
Responsibilities:
- Own internal and vendor supported development of RF hardware products for crewed spacecraft
- Develop component, subsystem, and flight article level test procedures used to guarantee the RF comm systems operate with the highest reliability on orbit.
- Create RF subsystem requirements and guide design activities to meet them.
- Carry out RF system design and analysis activities across disciplines.
- Generate excellent documentation and effectively communicating technical information to team members and vendors with diverse backgrounds.
- Contribute to a culture of extreme ownership by looking beyond the immediate performance of your RF subsystems and understanding its broad impact on other systems, teams, and all aspects of Vast.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in electrical engineering or related engineering discipline.
- 4+ years of experience in an RF engineering role.
- Experience with RF test equipment such as Spectrum Analyzers, VNAs, Power Meters, Signal Generators, etc.
- Experience in software development: Matlab, Python, C/C++, or other programming languages.
- Familiarity with RF communication system design & analysis.
- Mission oriented mindset with a strong desire for team success.
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- MS or PhD in electrical engineering or related engineering discipline.
- Mission oriented mindset with a strong desire for team success.
- Comfortable communicating deeply technical topics to a wide variety of audiences.
- Experience in software development: Matlab, Python, C/C++, or other programming languages.
- Experience with EDA software such as Altium Designer, KiCad, Eagle, PADS, etc
- Experience conducting environmental test for avionics (shock, random vibration, thermal cycling, TVAC, EMI/EMC)
- Knowledge of ionizing radiation and in space effects for electronics
- Experience with serial communication protocols such as CAN, SPI, and I2C, RS-422/485
- Understanding of RF modulation and media access control schemes such as BPSK, SOQPSK, GMSK, APSK, TDMA, FDMA, etc
- Experience with ethernet, UDP, TCP, IP sockets and related networking protocols
- Familiar with RF circuit and 3D EM simulation tools such as ADS, Microwave Office, CST, HFSS, etc.
- Ability to thrive at an early-stage startup where you will have the opportunity to help define the way engineering is carried out while doing your own development work.
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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