Instrumentation Test Engineer

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 Demos 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 worlds 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 Test Engineer reporting to the Director Structures Testto support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.

In this role you will support the ongoing development of our Haven-1 space station module with a primary focus on primary and secondary structures testing. You will work closely with design REs test technicians and other teams such as Manufacturing Integration and Avionics to meet design/mission requirements and industry standards.

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

Responsibilities:

• Work under the direction of the Director of Structures Test to develop and execute testing on primary and secondary structure of the Haven-1 Space Station
• Design commission and own data acquisition systems
• Mentor other engineers and technicians on the team
• Adhere to enforce and improve the test processes and good practices of Vast and the test organization
• Produce professional and traceable documentation including electrical software and electro-mechanical of the test systems used
• Work with responsible engineers to design prepare and execute test campaigns. This includes the buildup of new test systems and/or operation of existing systems
• Perform all necessary design commissioning and project management of new systems used for testing
• Present at TRR (Test Readiness Review) PDR (Preliminary Design Review) and/or CDR (Critical Design Review) before all test systems are started
• Find creative solutions to unique issues in order to save cost and schedule while improving overall quality and safety
• Come up with great ideas and be empowered to make them a reality
• Continuous learning/Improvementand share them with your team members
• Perform other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree or higher in mechanical engineering electrical engineering or other engineering discipline.
• 3 years of experience in an engineering environment (test launch automation etc.)

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Experience planning and executing engineering operations in a time-sensitive and high-risk environment
• Own assembly checkouts and development test stands
• Ability to quickly understand and troubleshoot new/existing systems
• Experience writing and executing test plans/procedures in collaboration with design engineers
• Experience with designing and implementing instrumentation systems
• Experience working across engineering groups to define requirements and implement solutions
• Execute deliverables based on prioritized implementation plans and timelines
• Ability to rapidly change priorities between several projects
• Identify key unknowns and quickly close knowledge gaps
• Deliver the highest value results quickly and iterate towards successive milestones
• Perform root cause analysis of system failures and provide practical solutions
• Experience designing and/or working with closed-loop control systems i.e. Pneumatic or Hydraulic Actuators
• Experience with selection of precision sensor and measurement devices (i.e. load cells thermocouples pressure sensors deflection transducers strain gauges)
• Experience with harnessing sensors to DAQ systems
• Experience working with DAQ software and hardware i.e. NI Beckhoff and/or Dewesoft.
• Experience with programming in Python C or other text based languages
• Experience generating test system P&IDs (Piping and Instrumentation Diagram) using Visio / Lucidchart or equivalent.
• Experience with creating and maintaining project schedules with Smartsheet Project or equivalent
• Experience with SVN GIT or other version management systems
• Experience with Teamcenter or other PLM systems
• Experience with CAD systems NX preferable

Additional Requirements:

• Must be able to travel to our Mojave Test site (up to 25% of the time)
• Must be able to work varying hours/shifts and available for extended hours as well as weekends when needed
• Must be able to stoop bend crawl and be able to maneuver in tight spaces; physically able to handle items weighing up to 25lbs (unassisted)
• Ability and desire to perform in a fast-paced rapidly changing work environment

Pay Range:

• Instrumentation Test Engineer II: $110000 - $142100
• Instrumentation Test Engineer III: $135800 - $176400

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY