Manufacturing Engineer, Thermal Controls Systems Hardware

Front Door Defense; Long Beach, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 86,000 - 159,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company equity

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Generous paid time off

Vacation days

Parental leave

Disability insurance

Life insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Meal subsidies and snacks

Job summary

Vast is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer, Thermal Control Systems in Long Beach, California to lead the manufacturing of thermal control hardware from development through integration for the Haven space station program.

You will work hands-on with technicians on the shop floor, author procedures, support special processes, and ensure on-schedule delivery of hardware while contributing to continuous improvement and a robust manufacturing culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering or science discipline.
• Hands-on hardware experience through work, internships, co-ops, or student projects.
• Reading and interpreting engineering drawings.
• Exposure to fluid system manufacturing processes (machining, welding, brazing, tube bending, cleaning, leak testing, pressure testing).
• Familiarity with geometric dimensioning and tolerancing and inspection planning.
• Experience with NX or CAD packages.
• Root cause analysis, corrective action, or design of experiments.
• Comfort working with technicians on the shop floor to troubleshoot builds.

Responsibilities

• Support manufacturing development and build execution of thermal control hardware.
• Author and maintain work instructions, assembly procedures, and inspection plans.
• Work hands-on with technicians on the shop floor to execute builds and resolve issues.
• Disposition nonconformances and support corrective actions.
• Provide feedback to design engineering on manufacturing/assembly.
• Support processes including welding, brazing, tube bending, cleaning, leak testing, and pressure testing.
• Deliver well-built hardware to Integration on schedule and support installation on the vehicle.
• Bring ownership, curiosity, and continuous improvement to every build.

Skills

Hands-on hardware

Read engineering drawings

Shop floor collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or science

Master's degree in engineering

Tools

NX CAD

Job description

Manufacturing Engineer, Thermal Controls Systems

Lead manufacturing of thermal control hardware from development through integration for Haven space station program

Location: Long Beach, California

Compensation: $86,000 - 159,000 USD / year

About The Role

Manufacturing Engineer, Thermal Control Systems

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 Manufacturing Engineer, Thermal Control Systems (TCS), reporting to the Lead Manufacturing Engineer, TCS, to support the development, production, and integration of the systems required for artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.

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

Responsibilities

• Support manufacturing development and build execution of thermal control system hardware, including pumps, fluid loops, coldplates, heaters, and tubing.
• Author and maintain work instructions, assembly procedures, and inspection plans for assigned TCS components.
• Work hands-on with technicians on the shop floor to execute builds, clear blockers, and resolve issues in real time.
• Disposition nonconformances and support root cause investigations and corrective actions.
• Provide design-for-manufacturing and design-for-assembly feedback to design engineering.
• Support special processes including welding, brazing, tube bending, cleaning, leak testing, and pressure testing.
• Deliver well-built hardware to Integration on schedule and support installation on the vehicle.
• Bring ownership, curiosity, and continuous improvement to every build.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering or science discipline.
• Hands-on hardware experience through work, internships, co-ops, or student engineering project teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in an engineering discipline.
• Internship or co-op experience in aerospace, spacecraft, propulsion, thermal, fluid, or other high-reliability hardware.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings.
• Exposure to fluid system manufacturing processes such as machining, welding, brazing, tube bending, cleaning, leak testing, and pressure testing.
• Familiarity with geometric dimensioning and tolerancing and inspection planning.
• Experience with NX or another CAD package.
• Exposure to root cause analysis, corrective action, or design of experiments.
• Comfort working directly with technicians on the shop floor to troubleshoot builds.
• Highly self-motivated, organized, and eager to learn in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.

Pay Range: California $86,000 - $159,000 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.

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:

• company equity
• medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents
• generous paid time off
• up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff
• 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
• other discounts and perks
• snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge
• lunch subsidized as part of Vast's ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees

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.

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.