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 Staff Manufacturing Engineer, reporting to the Manager Manufacturing Engineer, Soft Goods 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 the development and implementation of new product manufacturing processes for various soft-goods (Cargo bags, closeouts, protective blankets, etc.)
- Work closely with our Product Design and Supply Chain teams to ensure the highest level of quality of Vast's Soft-Goods products
- Responsible for meeting production targets (rate, delivery date, ect.)
- Work with interdisciplinary stakeholders such as human systems, industrial design, internal medicine to ensure all materials and processes can support a safe crewed mission
- Lead manufacturing reviews internally and externally with suppliers and customers
- Make sure that all designs and systems are manufacturable and reliable
- Coordinate with QA to Lead root cause analysis (RCA) and issue resolution on soft-good manufacturing quality issues
- Create and manage all operating procedures and control plans for the soft-goods manufacturing team
- Provide process design improvement ideas and collaborate with engineering resources to implement while ensuring solutions achieve required quality levels, reliability, and consistency
- Create/modify layouts, drawings, and designs supporting manufacturing operations
- Incorporate engineering specifications into process and manufacturing techniques
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Able to work well in an integrated collaborative team environment, including frequent interactions with technicians, other engineers, and managers
- Highly self-motivated with strong organizational and written/oral communication skills – able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment with the ongoing drive for continuous improvement in all aspects of work
- Strong organizational skills, as well as verbal and written communication
- Strong project management, organizational, and communication skills
- Ability to plan and execute R&D projects
- Apply subject matter expertise to cutting edge technical needs, iterate efficiently, and clearly articulate issues
- Experience with interpreting engineering drawings and models; GD&T, etc
- Knowledge of lean and/or Six Sigma concepts
- Experience with best-in-class soft goods manufacturing techniques
- Proficiency and experience in using NX, TeamCenter
- Prior experience in a fast-paced manufacturing setting
- Willingness and desire to exemplify extreme ownership of flight critical spacecraft systems
- Proactive problem-solving skills such as failure analysis, root cause investigation, and DOE creation
- Experience working with design, analysis and build of soft-good components
- Strong ability to use data and analysis to make fast data driven decisions
Additional Requirements:
- Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones
- Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.
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
Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Skills Required
- Must be a U.S. person (per export control)
- Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support mission milestones
- Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted
- Proficiency and experience in using NX and TeamCenter
- Experience interpreting engineering drawings and models; GD&T
- Knowledge of Lean and/or Six Sigma concepts
- Experience with soft goods manufacturing techniques
- Prior experience in a fast-paced manufacturing setting
- Experience with failure analysis, root cause investigation, and DOE creation
- Strong project management, organizational, and communication skills
- Ability to plan and execute R&D projects
- Ability to use data and analysis to make fast data-driven decisions
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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