NX Designer

Vast; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 138,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Job summary

Vast in Long Beach seeks a Staff NX Designer to lead CAD standards and manage the most complex assemblies for space station hardware. You will own designs from concept through release, mentor junior engineers, and coordinate with manufacturing to ensure producibility and timely release.

This exempt, full-time role anchors the Fluid Systems CAD authority. You will work under the Vice President, Fluid Systems, collaborating across propulsion, thermal, and life support disciplines on complex

Qualifications

• 8+ years of CAD/Design experience in aerospace or related field.
• Expert in designing and managing large CAD assemblies and drawings.
• Demonstrated configuration management and documentation discipline.
• Knowledge of mechanical engineering design and manufacturing processes.
• Experience with ASME Y14.100, Y14.5, and Y14.41.
• NX and Teamcenter proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Own design and drawings for thermal and life support hardware from conceptual phase through product release and manufacture.
• Own the BOM, mass tracking, and hardware release for assigned subsystems.
• Define and manage interfaces between vehicle subsystems and lead CAD trades.
• Execute complex geometrical modeling for additively manufactured hardware.
• Drive detailed design and drawing release for ECLSS subassemblies, tubing runs, component assemblies, MLI, and soft goods.
• Serve as SME for design, drafting, and modeling standards using NX and Teamcenter; set best practices and templates.
• Mentor and develop designers and engineers, and train the broader team on routine CAD tasks.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and suppliers to ensure designs are producible and released on schedule.

Skills

CAD/Design experience

Aerospace design

Large CAD assemblies & drawings

Configuration management

Mechanical design & manufacturing

ASME Y14.100

ASME Y14.5

ASME Y14.41

Tools

Siemens NX

Teamcenter

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 Staff NX Designer, reporting to the Vice President, Fluid Systems, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.

As the most senior design authority within Fluid Systems, this role sets the CAD and drafting standard for the organization, owns the hardest geometry and largest assemblies, and mentors designers and engineers across Propulsion,Thermal and Life Support Systems.

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

Responsibilities

• Own design and drawings for thermal and life support hardware from conceptual phase through product release and manufacture
• Own the BOM, mass tracking, and hardware release for assigned subsystems
• Define and manage interfaces between vehicle subsystems and lead design trades from the CAD side
• Execute complex geometrical modeling for additively manufactured hardware
• Drive detailed design and drawing release for ECLSS subassemblies, tubing runs, component assemblies, MLI (multi-layer insulation), and soft goods
• Serve as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for engineering design, drafting, and modeling standards using NX and Teamcenter — establishing and enforcing best practices, templates, and configuration management discipline across Fluid Systems
• Mentor and develop designers and engineers, and train the broader team to self-serve on routine CAD tasks
• Partner directly with manufacturing, technicians, and suppliers to ensure designs are producible, inspectable, and released on schedule

Minimum Qualifications

• 8+ years of relevant CAD/Design experience
• Experience working in aerospace design
• Expert-level experience designing and managing large CAD assemblies and associated drawings
• Demonstrated development and configuration management experience on technically complex hardware products
• Knowledge of mechanical engineering design and manufacturing
• Experience with ASME Y14.100, Y14.5, Y14.41
• Experience with Siemens NX and Teamcenter

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience with tube routing
• Experience with complex/organic geometry for additively manufactured parts including propulsion components
• Experience with metallics, plastics, and soft goods such as MLI and foam assemblies
• High level of expertise in GD&T
• Experience establishing CAD/drafting standards and mentoring designers on a growing team
• Self-motivated with strong multi-tasking, organizational, communication, and documentation skills
• Ability to work well in an integrated team including daily interactions with technicians, engineers, and managers
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment balancing several projects at any given time, and the flexibility to adjust for abrupt changes in strategic direction

Pay Range: California

$137,760 - $230,472 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,