Senior Test Engineer, Lunar
About The Position
Vast is seeking a Senior Test Engineer to support its Lunar Program. As the program’s first dedicated test hire, this role will establish test capability across propulsion and fluids, structures and mechanisms, thermal and vacuum, avionics and power, and integrated system-level checkout. The engineer will define how lunar hardware is tested by authoring procedures, building test stands and benches, conducting hazardous operations, and establishing standards for a growing test team. The role will lead testing for lunar systems including the Vast Power Station, a Haven-derived lunar airlock, and a multi-module lunar habitat. It includes planning and executing test campaigns, building the infrastructure needed to qualify lunar hardware, reviewing test readiness and results, and working with technicians and subsystem engineers to verify requirements. The position reports to the Senior Vice President, Lunar Programs and is based in Long Beach, California. It is a full-time, exempt position, with travel to test sites as required.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
- At least 4 years of experience in the operation, design, and development of test systems, fluid systems, or hardware testing.
- Demonstrated ownership of large test campaigns from planning through execution and data review.
- Willingness to travel to test sites, including Mojave and supplier or outside test facilities, as required.
Nice To Haves
- Experience across multiple test disciplines, including fluids/propulsion, structural/mechanism, thermal/TVAC, and electrical/avionics.
- Experience standing up new test capability, stands, or labs from the ground up in a resource-constrained environment.
- Experience with fluids systems testing.
- Experience testing hardware for spaceflight environments, including random vibration, shock, thermal cycling, TVAC, and burn-in, and familiarity with beyond-LEO or lunar surface environmental considerations.
- Ability to read and interpret Plumbing and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), schematics, and drawings.
- Experience with Python, MATLAB, Visual Basic, or other coding languages for test automation and data reduction.
- Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams and operate independently with limited direction in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment.
Responsibilities
- Lead testing for Vast’s lunar systems, including the Vast Power Station, the Haven-derived lunar airlock, and the multi-module lunar habitat.
- Plan, lead, and execute test campaigns across fluids and propulsion, structures and mechanisms, thermal/vacuum, avionics and power, and integrated system-level testing.
- Serve as Test Conductor and Test Director on console during hazardous operations, including work with pressurized structures and energetic or stored-energy systems.
- Author and maintain test plans, procedures, sequences, and configuration files; drive development, qualification, and acceptance test campaigns to completion.
- Establish test capability from the ground up by defining test architecture, specifying and procuring stands, fixtures, data acquisition systems, and instrumentation, and building lunar hardware qualification infrastructure.
- Own Test Readiness Reviews and post-test data reviews, presenting results and corrective actions to program and engineering leadership.
- Design and modify fluid, mechanical, and electrical systems on test stands and benches; troubleshoot fluid, mechanical, electrical, and software issues across the test environment.
- Work alongside technicians during fabrication of test hardware and integration of test articles.
- Partner with Responsible Engineers across subsystems to translate requirements into verification approaches and close verification evidence against those requirements.
- Establish test safety practices, hazard analyses, and continuous improvements to raise safety and site productivity as the program grows.
- Help scope and grow the Lunar test organization, mentoring engineers and technicians as additional hires come on.
- Travel to test sites, including Mojave and supplier or outside test facilities, as required.
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.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
