Propulsion Engineer - Pressure Vessels Lead (COPV)

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 Propulsion Engineer, reporting to the Senior Manager, Propulsion Flight Hardware, to design and qualify the pressure vessels human-rated space stations.

Haven Station carries composite over-wrapped pressure vessels and metallic tanks for propulsion and for crew life support gases. Vast is building out a team to own the in-house design, development, and flight qualification of these pressure vessels.

You set the technical approach, review the designs and analyses before they release, and take an active technical role yourself. You will run a rapid, iterative development cycle and own the full product lifecycle, from clean-sheet concept all the way to module end-of-life. You lead the team as their manager and technical mentor while staying close to the hardware and driving resolution of the hard problems.

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

Responsibilities: 

• Lead the pressure vessel team: set technical direction, review the work, and develop the responsible engineers and analysts under you
• Serve as technical authority over the Haven Station COPV and metallic tank designs, reviewing and approving releases from the responsible engineers
• Set the analysis and test approach for the team: composite layup analysis, stress and fracture, proof, burst, cycle, and stress rupture testing
• Lead failure investigations on prototype and qualification hardware and carry the findings into the next design iteration
• Own tank requirements and interfaces with Propulsion, ECLSS, and Structures
• Support the responsible engineers with the liner supplier, the winder, and the metallic fabrication shops on specifications, deviations, inspection, and acceptance
• Work with the matrixed manufacturing engineers on producibility, inspection methods, and a plan to bring winding in house
• Write and defend the qualification and fracture control approach for crewed flight

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, materials science, or equivalent experience
• 4+ years of experience designing, analyzing, or testing pressure vessels or composite structures for flight or other high consequence use
• Experience carrying hardware from design through build and test

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Composite overwrapped pressure vessel design, analysis, or test, for propulsion, life support, or any other application
• Design and qualification to AIAA S-081 or S-080
• Fracture control for crewed spacecraft per NASA-STD-5019
• Filament winding pattern design and composite manufacturing
• Titanium tank fabrication: forgings, superplastic forming, welding, heat treatment, and inspection
• Propellant management device design
• Type IV hydrogen or CNG tank development
• Analysis in Ansys, Abaqus, or Femap/Nastran, including laminate analysis. WoundSim or similar winding simulation is a plus
• Experience leading or mentoring engineers and reviewing their design releases
• Hands-on time in a composites or pressure vessel shop

Additional Requirements:

• Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends to support critical mission milestones
• Occasional travel to suppliers and to the Mojave Test Site

Pay Range: California

$136,120—$193,224 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.