Components Engineer

Vast•Long Beach, CA

7h•$112,340 - $230,000•Onsite

About The Position

Vast is seeking a Components Engineer to support the development of space mechanisms and spacecraft hardware. Reporting to the Sr. Director of Components, this role develops fluid components, electromechanical hardware, and/or fluid systems for spacecraft serving space stations. The engineer will take ownership of critical spacecraft propulsion hardware and systems and work with the production team to translate designs into spacecraft. The position is full-time, exempt, and located in Long Beach, California, with up to 10% travel to remote sites and vendors as needed. Vast is developing commercial space stations and related space infrastructure, including its Haven Station program and a high-power satellite product line. The company is headquartered in Long Beach, California, and has more than 1,000 employees. Its longer-term plans include habitats and systems for the Moon and Mars, government space stations, and other crewed systems.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, aerospace, or similar engineering.
At least 2 years of experience in the design, build, and/or test of mechanisms, structures, valves, or other mechanical systems.
Passion for advancing the commercial space industry and human spaceflight.
Ability to work in an integrated, collaborative team environment, including frequent interactions with technicians, engineers, and managers.
Highly self-motivated, with strong organizational and written and oral communication skills, and able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment while pursuing continuous improvement.
Able to travel up to 10% to remote sites and vendors as needed.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in aerospace engineering, manufacturing engineering, materials engineering, mechanical engineering, or physics.
Strong understanding of spacecraft and/or launch vehicle propulsion systems and fluid components.
Experience with NX 8.5 or other CAD packages such as PTC Creo or CATIA, and a solid understanding and application of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) per ASME Y14.5-1994.
Proficiency in basic principles of compressible and incompressible flow, thermodynamics, thermochemistry, mechanics, materials, and electrical circuits.
Professional or project experience with FEMAP, ANSYS, or similar finite element analysis (FEA) software tools, and a good understanding of fatigue, fracture, and crack propagation.
Knowledge of metallic and fluid-system manufacturing techniques, processes, and equipment, including machining, electron beam welding, orbital tube welding, tube bending, and structural assembly.
Good understanding of and experience working with aerospace materials, including metals, plastics, and composites.
Solid understanding of test methods and setups and data acquisition systems.
Ability to perform trade studies using first principles and engineering fundamentals and make clear recommendations with partial information.

Responsibilities

Develop, design, analyze, build, and test fluid components such as valves and instrumentation, electromechanical hardware, and/or fluid systems for spacecraft serving space stations.
Own critical spacecraft propulsion hardware and systems, with substantial responsibility for the hardware.
Interface with the production team to ensure successful translation of designs into spacecraft.

Benefits

Company equity for full-time employees.
Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents.
Generous paid time off; exempt staff may receive 20+ vacation days and non-exempt staff may receive 10+ vacation days, 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.
Other discounts and perks.
Free snacks, drip coffee, cold drinks, and dinner meals; subsidized lunch.