Propulsion Test Engineer

Vast

$86K — $195K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering or related field
  • 2+ years of experience in chemical propulsion, fluid systems, or hardware testing
  • Preferred propulsion experience in a collegiate rocket program
  • Familiarity with NX, Teamcenter, Epsilon3, JIRA, and Confluence
  • Experience with controls and data acquisition systems like Beckhoff/TwinCAT and LabVIEW
  • Ability to interpret Plumbing and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs)
  • Excellent communication skills and team collaboration ability

Responsibilities

  • Perform thruster development and qualification hot-fire testing
  • Lead hazardous operations with high pressure fluids
  • Write test procedures for hazardous operations
  • Prepare and conduct Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs)
  • Assist test stand technicians during installation and inspection of test articles
  • Maintain and design modifications to test stand fluids and electrical systems
  • Collaborate with engineers in Long Beach to meet test requirements and troubleshoot issues

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents
  • Generous paid time off, including 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff
  • Paid parental leave and disability insurance
  • Access to 401(k) retirement plan
  • ClassPass credits and personalized mental healthcare
  • Exceptional food perks including free snacks, meals, and drinks
  • Discounts and additional employee perks
Full Job Description
Vast is looking for a Propulsion Test Engineer, reporting to the Propulsion Test Manager, to support the development of the propulsion systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.

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

Responsibilities:
  • Perform thruster development, acceptance and qualification hot-fire testing
  • Lead hazardous operations including work with high pressure fluids
  • Write test procedures for hazardous operations
  • Prepare and lead Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs)
  • Work side by side with the test stand technicians during test article install and inspection
  • Maintain and design modifications to test stand fluids and electrical systems to meet current and expanding test requirements
  • Work collaboratively with Long Beach based responsible engineers to meet test requirements, design test stand modifications, and debug test stand problems rapidly

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering or related field
  • 2+ years of experience in the operation, design, and development of chemical propulsion and/or fluid systems, or hardware testing

Preferred Skills & Experience:
  • Propulsion experience in collegiate rocket program
  • Experience with NX and Teamcenter
  • Experience with Epsilon3
  • Experience with JIRA / Confluence
  • Experience with controls & data acquisition systems (e.g., Beckhoff/TwinCAT, National Instruments/LabVIEW)
  • Experience building and testing high pressure fluid systems
  • Tube fitting & bending, familiarity with common industry fittings systems
  • Read & interpret Plumbing and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs)
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
  • Ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams
  • Ability and willingness to thrive in a fast-paced, rapidly changing work environment

Additional Requirements:
  • Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones
  • Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted
  • Ability to work in extreme weather conditions outdoors in Mojave, CA

Pay Range:
  • Propulsion Test Engineer I: $86,000 - $122,000
  • Propulsion Test Engineer II: $112,000 - $155,000
  • Senior Propulsion Test Engineer: $135,000 - $195,000


Pay Range: California

$86,000-$195,000 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.

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUSThe 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.

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