Haven Certification Engineer

Vast; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 86,000 - 159,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Paid time off

Vacation days

Parental leave

Disability insurance

Life insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Equity

Free meals on site

Lunch subsidy

ClassPass credits

Spring Health mental healthcare

Job summary

Vast is seeking a Haven Certification Engineer in Long Beach, CA, reporting to the Senior Manager of Haven Certification, to support certification planning and execution for Haven and ensure certification is verified through test, analysis, demonstration, and inspection.

This full-time, exempt role offers the chance to develop and execute V&V and Certification strategies for the first-ever fully private human-rated spacecraft, contributing to America’s next space economy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering required; 2+ years hands-on engineering for Engineer I.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering; 3–5 years hands-on engineering for Engineer II.

Responsibilities

• Track certification requirements for Haven systems.
• Maintain certification artifact databases and verification status.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders to address certification artifacts.
• Support development of certification documentation and compliance matrices.
• Assist in identifying certification risks and issues.
• Participate in verification activities including test and analysis reviews.
• Support certification milestone preparation.
• Track certification artifacts and drive closure across engineering teams.
• Develop verification and validation plans for certification artifacts.
• Coordinate certification activities across systems engineering, test, and mission operations.
• Participate in vehicle level testing and demonstrations.
• Identify certification risks and issues early and develop mitigation strategies.
• Prepare certification evidence packages and documentation.

Skills

2+ years hands-on engineering

3–5 years hands-on engineering

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Systems, or related engineering discipline

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

NASA standards experience

Flight readiness processes

Job description

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 a Haven Certification Engineer , reporting to the Senior Manager of Haven Certification , to support certification planning and execution for Haven and ensure certification is verified through test, analysis, demonstration, and inspection.

This will be a full‑time , exempt position located in our Long Beach location. This is a unique opportunity to develop and execute the V&V and Certification strategies for the first‑ever fully private human‑rated spacecraft.

Responsibilities/Engineer I:

• Track completion of certification requirements for Haven systems
• Maintain certification artifact databases and verification status
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders to ensure certification artifacts are properly addressed
• Support development of certification documentation and compliance matrices
• Assist in identifying certification risks and issues
• Participate in verification activities including test and analysis reviews
• Support certification milestone preparation

Responsibilities/Engineer II:

• Track certification artifacts and drive closure across engineering teams
• Develop verification and validation plans for certification artifacts
• Coordinate certification activities across systems engineering, test, and mission operations
• Participate in vehicle level testing and demonstrations
• Identify certification risks and issues early and develop mitigation strategies
• Prepare certification evidence packages and documentation

Minimum Qualifications/Engineer I:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Systems, or related engineering discipline
• 2+ years of hands‑on engineering experience

Minimum Qualifications/Engineer II:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering
• 3–5 years of hands‑on engineering experience

Preferred Skills & Experience/Engineer I:

• Experience with NASA standards or commercial human spaceflight programs
• Experience supporting certification reviews and flight readiness processes
• Familiarity with requirements or database management tools
• Internship or project experience with spacecraft systems

Preferred Skills & Experience/Engineer II:

• Experience with NASA standards or commercial human spaceflight programs
• Experience supporting certification reviews and flight readiness processes
• Experience as a Responsible Engineer completing verification on flight hardware

Pay Range: California
$86,100 — $159,467 USD

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.