Lead Manufacturing Engineer, Propulsion

Vast; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 136,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company equity

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Generous vacation and PTO

Job summary

Vast is seeking a Lead Manufacturing Engineer, Propulsion in Long Beach to spearhead the development and production of propulsion hardware for artificial‑gravity space stations. You will lead a team, own schedules, and ensure safety and quality in high‑pressure fluid systems.

Base on-site role with a focus on manufacturing readiness, tooling, and collaboration across propulsion, systems, and quality teams. Competitive compensation and equity are offered along with extensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, manufacturing, or aerospace engineering, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in aerospace, propulsion, or high‑reliability fluid systems.
• 3+ years of hands‑on hardware experience supporting fabrication, assembly, integration, and/or testing of fluid system hardware.
• Experience developing manufacturing processes, travelers, work instructions, and production documentation for safety‑critical fluid hardware.
• Experience with CAD tools (e.g., Siemens NX) and the ability to review designs, generate manufacturing documentation, and design assembly or test tooling.
• Experience mentoring engineers or leading a workstream, build, or small team (formal people management not required).
• Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends as needed to support critical propulsion testing and mission milestones.

Responsibilities

• Lead the propulsion manufacturing engineering team day to day: set priorities, assign ownership, run team rhythms, and mentor engineers.
• Participate in hiring and onboarding new engineers to the team.
• Own manufacturing development, production readiness, and build execution for propulsion and pressurization hardware, including valves, regulators, tubing, ducting, manifolds, COPVs, fittings, and instrumentation, while staying hands‑on with your own hardware.
• Own the propulsion manufacturing schedule and build sequencing across development, qualification, and flight builds.
• Report hardware status, risks, and mitigation plans to program leadership.
• Partner with propulsion and systems design teams to drive design for manufacturing and manufacturing readiness.
• Develop, qualify, and optimize manufacturing processes and production equipment, including welding, brazing, tube fabrication, precision cleaning, and proof and leak testing.
• Work directly with suppliers on manufacturing readiness, including review and approval of supplier processes and documentation.
• Partner with quality engineering to define inspection methods, acceptance criteria, and process controls for safety-critical fluid components.
• Set a strong safety and quality culture for high-pressure and hazardous fluid hardware.

Skills

Manufacturing engineering

Fluid systems

Mentoring engineers

Evenings/weekends readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, manufacturing, or aerospace engineering

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

Siemens NX

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 Lead Manufacturing Engineer, Propulsion, reporting to the Manager, Structures & Fluids Manufacturing, to lead the team responsible for the development, production, and integration of propulsion and pressurization hardware for artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.

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

Responsibilities

• Lead the propulsion manufacturing engineering team day to day: set priorities, assign ownership, run team rhythms, and mentor engineers
• Participate in hiring and onboarding new engineers to the team
• Own manufacturing development, production readiness, and build execution for propulsion and pressurization hardware, including valves, regulators, tubing, ducting, manifolds, COPVs, fittings, and instrumentation, while staying hands‑on with your own hardware
• Own the propulsion manufacturing schedule and build sequencing across development, qualification, and flight builds
• Report hardware status, risks, and mitigation plans to program leadership
• Partner with propulsion and systems design teams to drive design for manufacturing and manufacturing readiness
• Develop, qualify, and optimize manufacturing processes and production equipment, including welding, brazing, tube fabrication, precision cleaning, and proof and leak testing
• Work directly with suppliers on manufacturing readiness, including review and approval of supplier processes and documentation
• Partner with quality engineering to define inspection methods, acceptance criteria, and process controls for safety-critical fluid components
• Set a strong safety and quality culture for high-pressure and hazardous fluid hardware

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, manufacturing, or aerospace engineering, or a related discipline
• 5+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in aerospace, propulsion, or high‑reliability fluid systems
• 3+ years of hands‑on hardware experience supporting fabrication, assembly, integration, and/or testing of fluid system hardware
• Experience developing manufacturing processes, travelers, work instructions, and production documentation for safety‑critical fluid hardware
• Experience with CAD tools (e.g., Siemens NX) and the ability to review designs, generate manufacturing documentation, and design assembly or test tooling
• Experience mentoring engineers or leading a workstream, build, or small team (formal people management experience not required)
• Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends as needed to support critical propulsion testing and mission milestones

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Master’s degree in an engineering discipline
• Experience as a technical lead, project lead, or informal team lead on hardware programs
• Experience participating in hiring and interviewing engineers
• Strong interest in developing into a people manager
• Experience with manufacturing and assembly of high‑pressure or hazardous fluid systems, including propellant feed, pressurization, venting, and purge systems
• Strong understanding of propulsion fluid system manufacturing, including tube fabrication, welding, brazing, precision cleaning, and assembly processes
• Hands‑on experience testing, troubleshooting, and qualifying propulsion or fluid components, including proof, leak, and functional testing
• Experience integrating COPVs, valves, regulators, and instrumentation into flight systems
• Experience developing and qualifying production equipment, assembly tooling, and test tooling
• Strong GD&T knowledge and experience creating and reviewing engineering drawings
• Experience with Siemens NX
• Experience reviewing and approving supplier manufacturing processes and documentation
• Proven problem‑solving skills with hands‑on root cause analysis and corrective and preventive action experience
• Strong cross‑functional communication skills and the ability to work effectively with propulsion, systems, test, and quality teams
• High attention to detail and a strong ownership mindset for safety‑critical hardware

Pay Range: California $136,120 — $193,224 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.