Lead Integration Build Engineer

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 inLong 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 a Lead Integration Build Engineer,   reporting to the Manager, Integration, to support the development of the systems required for the  build and test of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. 

As a lead for the Integration Build Engineering team, you will develop creative solutions to complex assembly, integration, and test problems. You will play a critical role in our development and production teams for identifying and defining human-rated vehicle processes, and growing a team that exists at the center of Haven-1 execution. Your input will be vital in transitioning the space station from design to a built and tested station ready to host humans in space. 

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location. 

Responsibilities: 

• Lead and grow a team of engineers and specialists charged with developing, scaling, and maintaining the facilities, tooling, and processes used to build, test, and integrate flight hardware for Haven-1
• Support day-to-day execution of hardware production and vehicle-level integration, ensuring builds are safe, on schedule, cost-effective, and produce hardware that performs on orbit
• Operate as an interdisciplinary engineer that can  collect production requirements, then plan and execute the build, integration, and validation of flight hardware against those requirements 
• Design and implement tooling and fixture solutions that are required for all phases of Haven-1’s integration campaigns
• Challenge existing design and process requirements, remove unnecessary steps, and optimize the build for a highly reliable vehicle that can meet schedule demands
• Become a subject-matter expert for the build of  vehicle-level systems (e.g., structures, propulsion, thermal, ECLSS, or avionics), maintaining working knowledge of its design, schematics, and requirements 
• Evaluate nonconformances, identify root causes and robust solutions, and drive corrective actions 
• Generate and maintain design-for-manufacturing requirements and work instructions/test procedures used to build flight hardware 
• Set clear goals for the team and hold members accountable for execution and continuous improvement in their area of ownership 
• Own the relationship with design engineering, supply chain, mission management, and other cross-functional partner teams 
• Identify opportunities for team growth and develop training to increase overall engineering effectiveness

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, electrical, or similar field
• 2+ years of related engineering experience

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Experience with the build, assembly, integration, or test of complex assemblies and systems
• Hands on hardware manufacturing, integration, or test experience
• Experience with working with technicians and running multi person operations
• Experience writing procedures, technical presentations, and providing go/no-go judgment and rationale
• 1+ years of experience leading teams, projects, or people 
• Familiarity with Epsilon3 and Python environments
• Ability to make independent judgments with limited information
• Experience planning and executing vehicle level system verifications, leak checks, or environmental tests
• Comfortable working in a high-stress environment balancing several projects at any given time, and the flexibility to adjust for abrupt changes in strategic direction
• Experience with GD&T and complex tolerance stack-ups
• Experience with mechanical design and analysis; familiarity with Siemens NX/Teamcenter or similar PLM tools
• Experience writing work instructions, test plans, and procedures, and configuration management
• Knowledge of PFMEA and  Root Cause/Corrective Action, and equivalent quality-oriented problem solving approaches 
• Strong sense of ownership, drive, and effective communication
• Comfortable making highly impactful decisions in a fast-paced environment

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time
• Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones
• Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted

Pay Range: California

$120,000—$194,000 USD

We calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-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, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.

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

Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.