Lead Propulsion Engineer, Space Station Pressure Vessels

Vast Space Llc.; Long Beach, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 136,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company equity

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Paid time off

Free meals and snacks

Job summary

Vast Space Llc. seeks a Lead Propulsion Engineer in Long Beach to own the design and qualification of pressure vessels for Haven Station. You will set technical direction, review designs, and mentor engineers while advancing from concept to flight-ready hardware.

The role requires hands-on testing, cross-discipline collaboration, and strong experience with composite vessels and titanium tanks. Remote work unlikely; on-site in Long Beach.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a relevant engineering field.
• 4+ years designing, analyzing, or testing pressure vessels or composite structures for flight.
• Experience carrying hardware from design through build and test.

Responsibilities

• Lead the pressure vessel team and develop engineers under you.
• Approve designs and releases for Haven Station COPV and tanks.
• Set analysis and test approach for composites and metals.
• Lead failure investigations and drive design iterations.
• Collaborate across Propulsion, ECLSS, and Structures on interfaces.

Skills

Pressure vessel design

Composite structures

FWA/TO design qualifications

Fracture control

Filament winding

Titanium tank fabrication

Hydrogen/CNG tank development

FEA (Ansys/Abaqus/Nastran)

Mentoring engineers

Hands-on shop work

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, materials science, or equivalent

Tools

Ansys

Abaqus

Femap/Nastran

Winding simulation

Job description

Vast Space Llc. seeks a Lead Propulsion Engineer in Long Beach to own the design and qualification of pressure vessels for Haven Station. You will set technical direction, review designs, and mentor engineers while advancing from concept to flight-ready hardware.

The role requires hands-on testing, cross-discipline collaboration, and strong experience with composite vessels and titanium tanks. Remote work unlikely; on-site in Long Beach.