{"id":2620919,"url":"https://alion.io/job/vastspace-mechanical-engineering-thermal-control-systems","title":"Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Control Systems","company":{"id":185145,"name":"Vast","domain":"vastspace.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/vastspace","size_band":"501-1000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":59,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-10-16T05:45:00Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"middle","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Long Beach, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":86100,"max":122220,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":122220},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":4,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-12T15:20:33Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-14","last_verified_at":"2026-10-16T03:49:05Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":3,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":3},"description":"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.\nHeadquartered 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.\nVast is looking for Mechanical Engineer, Thermal Control Systems, to help develop the systems behind our human-rated space stations. You'll use your engineering knowledge and creativity to design, build, and test novel solutions at the cutting edge of space technology.\nThis will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach, CA location.\nResponsibilities:\nOwn the design and development of thermal control systems and components for our artificial-gravity space station, such as heat exchangers, cold plates, heaters, and heat pipes, from initial design trades through a fully validated system.\nLead thermal and fluid analyses, and use the results to drive design decisions and define margins.\nPerform systems engineering for your hardware, including requirements, interfaces, and verification by test, analysis, inspection, or demonstration.\nLead development and qualification testing, and iterate on designs and manufacturing processes in a fast-paced environment.\nOwn the delivery timeline for your hardware from early design through production, launch, and orbit insertion.\nLead internal design reviews and technical reviews with suppliers and customers.\nPartner with avionics, software, and mission operations teams to make sure your system integrates across the station.\nMake sure designs are manufacturable and reliable, working with fabricators, technicians, and suppliers to resolve issues.\nMinimum Qualifications:\nB.S. in mechanical, aerospace, or civil engineering, physics, mathematics, or a related technical field.\n2+ years of experience designing and developing mechanical components or systems.2-4+ years of experience for Mechanical Engineer II\n4-6+ years of experience for Senior Mechanical Engineer\n\nProficiency with 3D CAD and FEA software packages.\nExperience implementing and analyzing GD&T per ASME Y14.5.\nPreferred Skills & Experience:\nDesign of structures and components for a high-performance vehicle or spacecraft.\nExperience with design work in recent versions of NX and Teamcenter.\nExperience with thermal and structural analysis using Ansys, Femap/Nastran, Abaqus, or similar tools.\nExperience implementing and analyzing GD&T per ASME Y14.5.\nProactive problem-solving skills, including failure analysis and root cause investigation.\nExperience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.\nFamiliarity with spacecraft specifications and environmental test standards such as SMC-S-016, NASA-STD-5001, and MIL-STD-810.\nAdditional Requirements:\nWillingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones.\nPay Ranges:\nMechanical Engineer/ Level I: $86,100.00 - $122,220.00\nMechanical Engineer/ Level II: $112,340.00 - $159,468.00\nSenior Mechanical Engineer/ Level III: $137,760.00 - $195,552.00\nWe calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.\nCOMPENSATION AND BENEFITS\n\nBase 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.\n\nU.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS\n 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.\nEQUAL OPPORTUNITY\nVast 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.","description_format":"text","description_chars":6114,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":4,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity","Life insurance","Parental leave","Retirement plans"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Electrical & Electronic Engineering","Space & Aerospace"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-15T13:23:20Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":60,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.602,"p_room":1,"age_days":3,"expected_fill_days":30,"reasons":["conf:1","stale_co","win:early","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-16T05:45:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":122220,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/vastspace-mechanical-engineering-thermal-control-systems","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/vastspace-mechanical-engineering-thermal-control-systems.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-16T06:30:44Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":4241,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-17T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":185145},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=185145"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fvastspace-mechanical-engineering-thermal-control-systems"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fvastspace-mechanical-engineering-thermal-control-systems"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fvastspace-mechanical-engineering-thermal-control-systems"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/vastspace-mechanical-engineering-thermal-control-systems\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fvastspace-mechanical-engineering-thermal-control-systems"}]}