Senior Mechanical Engineer, Lunar

Vast•Long Beach, CA

45d•$137,000 - $230,000•Onsite

About The Position

Vast is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer, Lunar, to support the development of systems for Vast’s Lunar ecosystem. This role will leverage existing technology and infrastructure from Vast's other programs to focus on lunar exploration. As one of the earliest Mechanical Engineers on the Lunar team, the individual will have a significant impact on developing the lunar ecosystem, covering a wide range of components and systems for the Moon. The role involves conceptualizing, designing, building, and testing engineered systems that require expertise in mechanical design, power systems, fluid systems, mechanisms, and materials engineering. The ideal candidate will be a responsible engineer with broad knowledge capable of taking a product from inception to completion.

Requirements

Minimum of a B.S. in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, materials engineering, mathematics, physics, or related technical discipline
6+ years of experience in mechanical design for space applications, with direct ownership of hardware from design through test
Hands-on CAD proficiency (NX or equivalent) with experience taking mechanical/electromechanical/fluids designs from concept through flight release
Demonstrated experience owning a hardware subsystem end-to-end (design, build, integration, and test), not solely in an analysis or support capacity
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, fluid schematics, and electrical circuit diagrams
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills, and ability to communicate technical information to non-technical partners

Nice To Haves

Experience working on lunar engineering programs.
Experience designing or delivering deployable spacecraft structures (solar arrays, booms, masts, or similar mechanisms)
Experience with battery system design, sizing, or qualification for space applications
Familiarity with the lunar surface or deep-space thermal, radiation, and solar environment (or equivalent extreme-environment design experience)
Experience leading hardware through formal verification campaigns (functional, environmental, vibration, thermal-vacuum)
Prior experience in a fast-paced commercial space or startup hardware environment, comfortable with high ownership and limited process overhead

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end lunar engineering projects such as solar and battery power stations, gas and fluids consumables pallets, airlocks, nodes, and habitation modules
Lead trade studies on lunar designs, interfacing with power, thermal, avionics, life support, and industrial design teams
Work with lunar subject matter experts and systems architects to bring lunar concepts to reality that mesh with Vast’s larger lunar ecosystem and NASA’s Moon Base architecture
Develop and maintain CAD models (NX or equivalent), flowing design intent through to fabrication and release
Drive fabrication, assembly, and integration of hardware, partnering with manufacturing and integration teams on design-for-manufacturing
Lead hardware bring-up, checkout, and anomaly resolution
Represent your systems at design reviews and program milestones