NX Designer

Vast•Long Beach, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Vast is seeking a Staff NX Designer to support development of systems for artificial-gravity, human-rated space stations. Reporting to the Vice President, Fluid Systems, this role is the most senior design authority within Fluid Systems. It sets CAD and drafting standards, owns complex geometry and large assemblies, and mentors designers and engineers across Propulsion, Thermal, and Life Support Systems. The position is full-time, exempt, and located in Long Beach, California. The designer will own thermal and life support hardware design and drawings from concept through product release and manufacture. The role includes managing subsystem bills of materials, mass tracking, hardware releases, subsystem interfaces, and CAD-led design trades. It also involves detailed modeling and drawing release for ECLSS subassemblies, tubing, component assemblies, multi-layer insulation, and soft goods. The role establishes and enforces NX and Teamcenter design, drafting, template, and configuration-management practices, while partnering with manufacturing, technicians, and suppliers to ensure designs are producible, inspectable, and released on schedule. Vast is developing commercial space stations and related space infrastructure, including the Haven station program and a high-power satellite product line. The company is headquartered in Long Beach, California, has more than 1,000 employees, and plans to develop future habitats and systems for the Moon and Mars, as well as dedicated stations and crewed systems for government partners.

Requirements

At least 8 years of relevant CAD/design experience.
Experience working in aerospace design.
Expert-level experience designing and managing large CAD assemblies and associated drawings.
Demonstrated development and configuration-management experience with technically complex hardware products.
Knowledge of mechanical engineering design and manufacturing.
Experience with ASME Y14.100, Y14.5, and Y14.41.
Experience with Siemens NX and Teamcenter.

Nice To Haves

Experience with tube routing.
Experience with complex or organic geometry for additively manufactured parts, including propulsion components.
Experience with metallics, plastics, and soft goods such as multi-layer insulation and foam assemblies.
High level of expertise in GD&T.
Experience establishing CAD/drafting standards and mentoring designers on a growing team.
Self-motivation and strong multitasking, organizational, communication, and documentation skills.
Ability to work well in an integrated team, including daily interactions with technicians, engineers, and managers.
Comfort working in a fast-paced environment, balancing several projects, and adjusting to abrupt changes in strategic direction.

Responsibilities

Own design and drawings for thermal and life support hardware from concept through product release and manufacture.
Own the bill of materials, mass tracking, and hardware release for assigned subsystems.
Define and manage interfaces between vehicle subsystems and lead design trades from the CAD side.
Perform complex geometric modeling for additively manufactured hardware.
Drive detailed design and drawing release for ECLSS subassemblies, tubing runs, component assemblies, multi-layer insulation, and soft goods.
Serve as the subject matter expert for engineering design, drafting, and modeling standards using NX and Teamcenter; establish and enforce best practices, templates, and configuration-management discipline across Fluid Systems.
Mentor and develop designers and engineers, and train the broader team to handle routine CAD tasks independently.
Partner with manufacturing, technicians, and suppliers to ensure designs are producible, inspectable, and released on schedule.

Benefits

Company equity for full-time employees.
Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents.
Paid time off, including up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff, 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.