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 Sensor Development Engineer to join our Avionics team and collaborate with the Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) team to support sensor development for human-rated space stations. You will lead sensor selection, procurement, and qualification, while supporting the growth of Vast’s internal sensor development program.
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.
Responsibilities:
- Responsible for cradle-to-grave design, development, manufacture, and test of sensors and sensor systems specifically designed for Life Support Systems on the Haven-1 commercial space station, including O2 sensing, CO2 sensing, smoke/fire detection, and water quality and trace contaminant monitoring
- Architect new test infrastructure, complete data analysis/review, and interface with system owners
- Coordinate and execute acceptance and qualification testing of sensors
- Interface with sensor vendors for the selection of sensors for given applications
- Collect and document sensor requirements to communicate to vendors
- Work across teams (systems, integration, dynamics, guidance, etc.) to ensure appropriate sensors are developed to meet vehicle requirements
- Participate in design reviews
- Investigate sensor failures and communicate/execute recommended actions
Minimum Qualifications:
- 4+ years of experience and/or Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Chemical Engineering, or Chemistry, Physics, or Biology
- 2+ years of experience in sensor design/development
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Optics modeling, design, or testing with an emphasis on laser diagnostics, photonics, and instrumentation
- Signal analysis common to spectroscopic techniques including FFT, frequency modulation, signal decomposition, and envelope filters
- Hands-on test experience and a demonstrated ability to use test equipment to rapidly diagnose sensor challenges and failure modes
- Comfortable working in a rapidly changing, high-stress environment balancing several projects at any given time
- Unfazed by sudden changes in strategic business direction
Additional Requirements:
- Ability to travel up to 10% of the time
- Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones
- Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted
Pay Ranges:
- Senior Engineer: $150,000 - $170,000
- Staff 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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