Integration Build Engineering Specialist
About the role
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 in Long 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 an Integration Build Specialist II, 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.
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.
Responsibilities:
- Support operations with Integration Technicians and supporting Engineering REs
- Be a permanent engineering presence to ensure operations are unblocked and to find solutions to keep work moving if blockers or Non Conformances arise
- Plan, schedule, prepare, coordinate, direct, and exercise functional authority for completion of tests
- Collaborate with the distributed engineering organizations to define and manage test plans, requirements, and schedules.
- Ensure integration procedures are continuously evolving to reflect the most efficient assembly practices
- Develop, qualify, and refine manufacturing processes to meet all requirements including safety, quality, efficiency, and delivery
- Collaborate with other engineers, subject matter experts, and technicians to solve complex production issues
- Act as test director and provide status updates and run handoff and other tagups
- Document and provide resolution to non-conformances and collaborate with the quality team to implement root cause corrective actions
Minimum Qualifications:
- 5+ years of hands-on integration, build, or test experience in lieu of a degree
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, electrical, or similar field with 1+ years of related engineering experience
- Hands on hardware integration and testing experience
- Experience with working with technicians and running multi person operations
- Experience writing test plans, procedures, presentations, and providing go/no-go judgment and rationale
- Experience with the build, assembly, integration, or test of complex assemblies and systems
- Familiarity with Linux and Python environments
- Ability to make independent judgments with limited information
- Experience writing test plans, procedures, and providing go/no-go judgment and rationale
- 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
Additional Requirements
- Ability to travel up to 50% of the time
- Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones
- Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted
- Specific certifications, as appropriate
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.