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 Test Engineer - System Verification, reporting to the Principal Avionics Test Engineer, 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- Responsible for defining, reviewing, and tracking System and Component Verification & Validation (V&V) plans.
- Own requirements traceability to verification plans delivering the analysis of verification and validation coverage for the spacecraft from the component to the system.
- Serve as an interface to wider Avionics & Flight Software test teams, providing guidance to Component and System engineers to develop test cases which support the V&V plans.
- Own and run Test Planning and Test Readiness reviews with cross-functional teams where test coverage and implementation plans are critically evaluated.
- Provide a forecasting signal for Test Hardware and Test Software development teams to plan capability development in line with V&V plans.
- Develop and maintain a framework for producing, peer-reviewing, and recording validation reports; work with respective component and system owners to ensure reports are produced and approved according to spacecraft program timing needs.
- Work with Software Automation teams to develop a reporting framework so that progress and health of V&V plans can be monitored in real time.
- Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering, or related engineering/hard science discipline.
- 4+ years of engineering experience focused on hardware test & verification.
- Ownership of test planning for spacecraft test systems such as a FlatSat, Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL / HIL) test fixtures, or similar avionics test programs.
- Track record showing ownership of validation and verification plans within an engineering discipline.
- Experience with relevant aerospace testing standards (e.g. SMC-S-016).
- Detailed knowledge of hardware verification test methods in at least one spacecraft domain, RF, power, or avionics systems.
- Knowledge of test automation systems such as data acquisition systems (NI, Beckhoff), power supplies, etc.
- Proven experience leading and influencing cross-functional teams to affect process change across a wider organization.
- Strong planning and documentation skills.
- Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones.
Pay Range:
- Test Engineer II: $110,000-$145,000
- Senior Test Engineer: $145,000-$175,000
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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