Build 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 a Build Engineer reporting to the Manager Structures Design 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-timeexempt position located in our Long Beachlocation.

Responsibilities:

• Develop author and maintain manufacturing planning documentation and work instructions for flight hardware to enable safe repeatable builds.
• Design and implement tooling for manufacturing and verification including build fixturing lifting tools inspection tools and integration aids.
• Hands on support of dev or production builds kitting integration and shipment readiness.
• Write execute and support Acceptance Test Procedures (ATP) and Qualification Test Procedures (QTP) for flight hardware (medical devices space food water exercise equipment ect).
• Design test fixtures and participate in testing activities (off-gassing flammability mechanical loads EMI/EMC environmental exposure).
• Define and document inspection requirements acceptance criteria and inspection procedures in partnership with quality.
• Collaborate with test quality and design teams to resolve nonconformances and implement root cause corrective actions.
• Support the procurement receipt and intake of COTS components including definition and enforcement of part numbering conventions and packaging requirements.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering Aerospace Engineering Manufacturing Engineering Materials Engineering or related field.
• 1 years of experience in manufacturing engineering production engineering quality engineering or design engineering (internships co-ops and student project teams qualify).
• Hands-on experience working with hardware in a production lab or build environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively across multidisciplinary teams and work directly with technicians and engineers.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Experience with aerospace structures manufacturing integration or large mechanical assemblies.
• Proficiency in CAD software such as NX SolidWorks CATIA or equivalent for reviewing designs and creating manufacturing documentation.
• Hands-on experience supporting environmental testing (structural random vibration thermal EMI/EMC).
• Tooling design experience for fixtures test setups lifting/handling equipment and work access systems.
• Experience writing work instructions and procedures for critical or flight-like hardware.
• Comfort working in ambiguity; ability to move fast balance multiple projects take ownership and deliver under tight schedule constraints.

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time
• Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones
• Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted
• Specific certifications as appropriate

Pay Range:

• Mechanical Engineer I: $84200 - $108780
• Mechanical Engineer II: $11000 - $142100

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY