Vast is looking for a Lead Integration Build Engineer, 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.

As a lead for the Integration Build Engineering team, you will develop creative solutions to complex assembly, integration, and test problems. You will play a critical role in our development and production teams for identifying and defining human-rated vehicle processes, and growing a team that exists at the center of Haven-1 execution. Your input will be vital in transitioning the space station from design to a built and tested station ready to host humans in space.

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

Responsibilities:

• Lead and grow a team of engineers and specialists charged with developing, scaling, and maintaining the facilities, tooling, and processes used to build, test, and integrate flight hardware for Haven-1
• Support day-to-day execution of hardware production and vehicle-level integration, ensuring builds are safe, on schedule, cost-effective, and produce hardware that performs on orbit
• Operate as an interdisciplinary engineer that can collect production requirements, then plan and execute the build, integration, and validation of flight hardware against those requirements
• Design and implement tooling and fixture solutions that are required for all phases of Haven-1's integration campaigns
• Challenge existing design and process requirements, remove unnecessary steps, and optimize the build for a highly reliable vehicle that can meet schedule demands
• Become a subject-matter expert for the build of vehicle-level systems (e.g., structures, propulsion, thermal, ECLSS, or avionics), maintaining working knowledge of its design, schematics, and requirements
• Evaluate nonconformances, identify root causes and robust solutions, and drive corrective actions
• Generate and maintain design-for-manufacturing requirements and work instructions/test procedures used to build flight hardware
• Set clear goals for the team and hold members accountable for execution and continuous improvement in their area of ownership
• Own the relationship with design engineering, supply chain, mission management, and other cross-functional partner teams
• Identify opportunities for team growth and develop training to increase overall engineering effectiveness

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, electrical, or similar field
• 2+ years of related engineering experience

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Experience with the build, assembly, integration, or test of complex assemblies and systems
• Hands on hardware manufacturing, integration, or test experience
• Experience with working with technicians and running multi person operations
• Experience writing procedures, technical presentations, and providing go/no-go judgment and rationale
• 1+ years of experience leading teams, projects, or people
• Familiarity with Epsilon3 and Python environments
• Ability to make independent judgments with limited information
• 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
• Experience with GD&T and complex tolerance stack-ups
• Experience with mechanical design and analysis; familiarity with Siemens NX/Teamcenter or similar PLM tools
• Experience writing work instructions, test plans, and procedures, and configuration management
• Knowledge of PFMEA and Root Cause/Corrective Action, and equivalent quality-oriented problem solving approaches
• Strong sense of ownership, drive, and effective communication
• Comfortable making highly impactful decisions in a fast-paced environment

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time
• Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones
• Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted

Pay Range: California

$120,000-$194,000 USD

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.