Additive Manufacturing Specialist
About The Position
Vast is seeking an Additive Manufacturing Specialist to support development of systems for the design and build of human-rated space stations. Reporting to the Supervisor, Manufacturing, this role operates and maintains additive manufacturing equipment, designs fixtures, improves additive workflows, and performs part post-processing and quality control. The position is full-time, non-exempt, and located in Long Beach, California. The specialist plans and monitors print jobs, verifies machine parameters and materials against qualified processes, diagnoses failures, and recommends corrective actions. The role also covers fixture and tooling design and documentation, workflow improvement, safe metal-powder handling, equipment maintenance, post-processing, inspections, records, procedures, testing support, and training. The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls and must qualify as a U.S. person or otherwise be eligible for deemed export licensing.
Requirements
- High school degree or equivalency certificate.
- At least 5 years of hands-on metal additive experience (LPBF) and powder handling or a similar environment.
- CAD proficiency, such as Siemens NX or equivalent.
- Comfort with hand tools and measurement equipment, and ability to follow detailed procedures exactly and safely.
- Willingness to work overtime or weekends to support critical mission milestones.
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs unassisted.
- Ability to work with metal powders using appropriate PPE.
- Must be a U.S. person as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing.
Nice To Haves
- At least 9 years of hands-on metal additive experience and powder handling or a similar environment.
- Ability to read engineering drawings, including GD&T, and work from controlled documentation.
- Experience in aerospace or defense manufacturing environments.
- Experience with CNC machining, EDM, or work-holding setup and programming.
- Experience with lean or continuous-improvement methods, root-cause analysis, and corrective action.
- Experience writing or revising SOPs and work instructions.
- Experience with powder quality testing and control.
- Experience training or mentoring others.
- Excellent written and verbal communication.
- Initiative and a record of helping the team raise its standards.
Responsibilities
- Plan and set up print jobs; verify machine parameters, build layouts, and material settings against qualified processes; monitor builds and make recovery decisions.
- Diagnose build failures and process deviations, identify root causes, and recommend corrective actions.
- Design, build, validate, and release fixtures and tooling for builds, post-processing, and inspection; document them with drawings and revision control.
- Map and improve workflows from build preparation through post-processing, inspection, and release; track cycle time, throughput, first-pass yield, and machine utilization.
- Safely handle and track metal powder, including sieving, loading, de-powdering, storage, and lifecycle control.
- Perform and schedule preventive maintenance and troubleshoot equipment.
- Operate post-processing equipment such as drills, grinders, CNC, and EDM as required.
- Perform verifications and maintain complete build, test, fixture, and maintenance records.
- Write and refine work instructions, SOPs, and safety practices.
- Support rapid iteration and development testing with engineering.
- Train cross-functional partners and technicians on equipment, procedures, and safe powder handling.
Benefits
- Company equity.
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents.
- Paid time off, including vacation; non-exempt staff may receive up to 10+ vacation days and can 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.
- Discounts and other perks.
- Free snacks, drip coffee, cold drinks, dinner meals, and onsite barista service; subsidized lunch.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
High school or GED
