Mechanical Engineering, Structures (New Grad)

Vast•Long Beach, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and low-cost approach. Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station 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. 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 2027, followed by additional Haven modules. Additionally, the company recently announced Vast Satellite , a high-power satellite product line leveraging its space station components and the heritage of Haven Demo. Headquartered in Long Beach, California , and with more than 1,000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital, Vast has built the facilities required to manufacture and operate America’s next space station. The company plans to develop future habitats and systems for the Moon and Mars, dedicated space stations for government partners, and other crewed systems that will unlock the expanding long-term space economy. Vast is looking for Mechanical Engineer, Structures (New Grad) , to help develop the systems behind our human-rated space stations. You'll use your engineering knowledge and creativity to design, build, and test novel solutions at the cutting edge of space technology. This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach, CA location.

Requirements

B.S. in mechanical, aerospace, or civil engineering, physics, mathematics, or a related technical field.
Coursework, project, or internship experience designing and developing mechanical components or systems.
Familiarity with 3D CAD and FEA software through coursework, student project teams, or internships.
Understanding of GD&T fundamentals (ASME Y14.5).

Nice To Haves

Participation in hands-on engineering teams such as Formula SAE, rocketry, CubeSat, or robotics.
A portfolio or examples of designs you've taken from concept through build or test.
Coursework, project, or internship experience designing structures or components for a high-performance vehicle or spacecraft.
Familiarity with CAD tools, ideally NX, and exposure to PLM tools such as Teamcenter.
Exposure to thermal or structural analysis using Ansys, Femap/Nastran, Abaqus, or similar tools.
Working knowledge of GD&T fundamentals (ASME Y14.5).
A curious, hands-on approach to problem solving, including interest in troubleshooting and root cause analysis.
Hands-on experience building or testing hardware, whether through internships, co-ops, machine shops, or student project teams.
Awareness of aerospace design and environmental test standards such as SMC-S-016, NASA-STD-5001, or MIL-STD-810.

Responsibilities

Design and analyze primary and secondary structures and components for a large-scale space station, with guidance from senior engineers.
Apply your understanding of static and dynamic loads, vibration, thermal, and other environments to evaluate and improve designs.
Create CAD models and manufacturing drawings, and help develop test plans and concepts of operations.
Contribute to trade studies and help define interfaces with other subsystems.
Work hands-on with fabricators and technicians to build, assemble, and test hardware, and help resolve issues on the floor.