Senior Mechanical Engineer, Thermal Control Systems
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 Mechanical Engineer, Thermal Control System
reporting to the Senior Manager, Thermal Control Systems Hardware 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, CA
location.
Responsibilities:
Own the design, development and operation of thermal control systems (i.e. tubes, trays, etc.) for our artificial-gravity space station, from initial design trades to fully functional and validated system
Iterate on manufacturing processes and development testing in a fast-paced environment
Own the project delivery timeline from early design through production, launch, and orbit insertion
Perform systems engineering tasks and fluid analyses
Lead design reviews internally and externally with suppliers and customers
Work with interdisciplinary stakeholders to ensure the component will integrate with the necessary avionics, software, and mission operations systems
Make sure that all designs are manufacturable and reliable
Bring technical excellence to everything you do
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or other engineering discipline
Experience working with fluid systems
5+ years of hands-on hardware experience performing fabrication, assembly and/or testing
Skills & Experience:
4+ years of experience working with fluid systems or components
Demonstrated ability to own hardware or systems within an integrated engineering team outside a classroom setting
4+ years of hands-on hardware experience performing fabrication, assembly and/or testing
Proactive problem-solving skills such as failure analysis, root cause investigation, and design of experiment creation
Ability to perform trade studies using first principles and engineering fundamentals to make clear recommendations even with partial information
Experience with rotating machinery
Experienced in NX
Solid understanding and application of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and tolerance stack-up analysis
Experience with structural analysis methods (hand calcs, FEMAP, ANSYS) in order to optimize hardware to strength requirements as well as to evaluate for life and fracture
Knowledge of metallic and fluid system manufacturing techniques, processes, equipment, and other processes such as machining, welding, brazing, tube bending, etc.
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
Additional Requirements:
Ability to travel up to 5% of the time
Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones
Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted
Pay Range:
Senior Mechanical Engineer: $135,800 - $176,400
Salary Range: California$135,800—$176,400 USD 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: 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, flexible paid time off for exempt staff and up to 10 days of vacation for non-exempt staff, paid parental leave, short and long-term insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, One Medical membership, 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, 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. , U.S. , lawful permanent (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 , , , , /, veteran status, status, , , , marital status, mental or physical or any other legally protected status.
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