Vast is looking for a
Senior Software Engineer,
Backend reporting to the
Senior Manager, Software Engineering 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-time,
exempt position located in our
Long Beach location.
Responsibilities: - Design, build, and maintain scalable backend services, tools, and pipelines supporting mission-critical security systems.
- Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to design and implement secure, high-performance services and APIs.
- Develop and maintain backend infrastructure for authentication, authorization, and secure data handling.
- Establish and promote best practices for backend architecture, security, and code quality at scale.
- Build systems that are reliable, observable, and capable of supporting a rapidly growing codebase and engineering team.
Minimum Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
- 6+ years of backend software engineering experience, with exposure to security-focused systems (e.g., IAM, API security, certificate management).
- Strong experience building and operating backend services in cloud environments.
- Proficiency in at least one modern programming language (Python, Go, Rust, C++, etc.).
- Solid understanding of distributed systems, API design, and backend architecture.
- Experience working in Linux environments, including command line and scripting.
Preferred Skills & Experience:- Experience solving ambiguous, complex backend problems in fast-paced environments.
- Familiarity with DevOps practices and tools (Docker, Kubernetes).
- Experience designing and scaling APIs and microservices.
- Background in one or more security domains (e.g., cryptography, network security, infrastructure security).
- Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across teams.
- Ownership mindset with a bias toward action and continuous improvement.
Additional Requirements:- Ability to travel up to 10% 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.
Pay Range: - Senior Software Engineer, Enterprise Applications: $159,000 - $226,000
- Staff Software Engineer, Enterprise Applications: $188,600 - $267,000
Pay Range: California
$159,000-$267,000 USD
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITSBase 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: 100% 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.
