Vast
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At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. Vast is developing next-generation space stations 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. Using an incremental, hardware-rich and low-cost approach, Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station. 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, followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.
Vast is looking for an Propulsion Test Engineer, reporting to the Senior Manager, Engineering (E-2), to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Mojave location.
Responsibilities:
- Sit on console as Test Conductor and Test Director running hotfires of the E-2 LOX/Kerosene oxidizer-rich staged combustion engine.
- Plan and lead hazardous operations including work with high pressures and cryogenic fluids.
- Assist in driving engine development, qualification, and acceptance test campaigns to completion.
- Author and maintain test procedures, sequences, and configuration files for hazardous operations.
- Support Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs).
- Work side by side with the test stand technicians during fabrication of test stand hardware and integration of test articles.
- Work on projects to design and modify fluid and electrical systems on the engine test stands.
- Troubleshoot fluid, mechanical, electrical, and software related systems on the test stands.
- Implement continuous improvements to improve safety and test site productivity.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
- 2+ years of experience in the operation, design and development of fluid systems, or hardware testing.
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Experience handling cryogenic fluids.
- Experience with NX and Teamcenter.
- Experience with Epsilon3.
- Experience with JIRA / Confluence.
- Experience with coding languages (Python, Matlab, Visual Basic).
- Experience building and testing high pressure fluid/gas systems.
- Experience reviewing data and taking corrective actions based on findings.
- Experience with common instrumentation and controls systems and sensors.
- Tube fitting & bending, familiar with common industry fittings systems.
- Read & interpret Plumbing and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs).
- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, along with effective teamwork abilities.
- Ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams.
- Ability and willingness to thrive in a fast-paced, rapidly changing work environment.
Additional Requirements:
- Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones.
- Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted.
Pay Range:
- Propulsion Test Engineer I: $86,000 - $120,000
- Propulsion Test Engineer II: $110,000 - $155,000
U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS
The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Ready to apply?
Apply to Vast
At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. Vast is developing next-generation space stations 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. Using an incremental, hardware-rich and low-cost approach, Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station. 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, followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.
Vast is looking for an Instrumentation and Controls Engineer, reporting to the Senior Manager, Engineering (E-2), to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design, build, and test of the E-2 LOX/Kerosene oxidizer-rich staged combustion engine.
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Mojave location.
Responsibilities:
- Support test engineers by maintaining all test stand instrumentation and control systems on all rocket engine and structures test stands.
- Generate and maintain electrical schematics for all test stand instrumentation and control systems.
- Manage all instrumentation calibration records.
- Manage all instrumentation checkout and calibration equipment.
- Coordinate recalibration of all instrumentation.
- Work alongside electrical technicians to build, test, and maintain electrical systems on rocket engines and rocket engine test stands.
- Troubleshoot electrical, mechanical, and software related systems on the test stands.
- Implement continuous improvements to improve safety and test site productivity
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
- 2+ years of experience in the operation, design and development of instrumentation and controls equipment.
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Experience with PLCs.
- Experience with National Instruments hardware and LabVIEW.
- Experience with coding languages (Python, Matlab Visual Basic).
- Experience with strain gauges, IEPE accelerometers, TCs, RTDs and 4-20mA loop sensors.
- Ability to read, understand, and interpret technical documentation such as wire diagrams, sensor data sheets, and data systems equipment manuals.
- Experience with NX and Teamcenter.
- Experience with JIRA / Confluence.
- Extreme attention to detail.
- Read & interpret Plumbing and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs).
- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, along with effective teamwork abilities.
- Ability and willingness to thrive in a fast-paced, rapidly changing work environment.
Additional Requirements:
- Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones.
- Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted.
Pay Range:
- Instrumentation and Controls Engineer I: $86,000 - $120,000
- Instrumentation and Controls Engineer II: $110,000 - $155,000
U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS
The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Ready to apply?
Apply to Vast
At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. Vast is developing next-generation space stations 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. Using an incremental, hardware-rich and low-cost approach, Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station. 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, followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.
Vast is looking for a Propulsion Test Engineer, reporting to the Director, Mojave Test Site, to support the development of the propulsion systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Mojave location.
Responsibilities:
- Execute hot-fire testing for the development and qualification of in-house thrusters and vehicle-level chemical propulsion systems.
- Lead hazardous operations including work with high pressure fluids and combustion device testing.
- Write test procedures for hazardous operations.
- Prepare and lead Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs).
- Work side by side with the test stand technicians during test article install and inspection.
- Maintain and design modifications to test stand fluids and electrical systems to meet current and expanding test requirements.
- Work collaboratively with Long Beach based responsible engineers to meet test requirements, design test stand modifications, and debug test stand problems rapidly.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering or related field.
- 2+ years of experience in the operation, design, and development of chemical propulsion and/or fluid systems, or hardware testing.
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Experience with chemical propulsion systems, combustion devices, and/or collegiate rocket program
- Experience with NX and Teamcenter
- Experience with JIRA / Confluence
- Experience with controls & data acquisition systems (e.g., Beckhoff/TwinCAT, National Instruments/LabVIEW)
- Experience building and testing high pressure fluid systems
- Tube fitting & bending, familiarity with common industry fittings systems
- Read & interpret Plumbing and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs)
- Excellent scientific, engineering, and interpersonal communication skills, both written and oral, along with effective teamwork abilities
- Ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams
- Ability and willingness to thrive in a fast-paced, rapidly changing work environment
Additional Requirements:
- Ability to travel up to 50% of the time
- Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones
- Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted
- Specific certifications, as appropriate
Pay Range:
- Propulsion Test Engineer I: $84,200 - $108,780
- Propulsion Test Engineer II: $110,000 - $142,100
U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS
The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Ready to apply?
Apply to Vast