Propulsion Structures Engineer

Vast; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 138,000 - 265,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

401(k) plan

Meals on site

Paid time off

Job summary

Vast is building next-generation space stations and space infrastructure from its Long Beach, CA location. The Propulsion Structures Engineer will interface with Propulsion and Structures teams to drive design and analysis of mechanical hardware for human-rated space systems.

The position requires a mechanical/engineering degree and 4+ years in CAD/FEA with experience in propulsion components; NX/Teamcenter and Ansys/Nastran/Abaqus are preferred. Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, civil engineering, physics, or math or equivalent experience.
• 4+ years of experience with CAD and FEA software packages.
• 4+ years of experience designing and developing mechanical components or systems.

Responsibilities

• Serve as responsible engineer for propulsion mechanical hardware: tubing assemblies, brackets, mounts, and propulsion-owned secondary structure.
• Act as the primary interface between the Propulsion and Structures teams, coordinating loads, interfaces, and design requirements across both groups.
• Perform structural analysis to drive design decisions, covering static and dynamic loads, vibration, thermo-mechanical, and other environmental considerations.
• Perform mechanical design and analysis, develop manufacturing drawings, test plans, and concepts of operations, and follow hardware from design release through build and acceptance.
• Lead trade studies and own interfaces with adjacent subsystems.
• Work directly with fabricators and technicians to improve designs, mature processes, and resolve build issues.

Skills

CAD

FEA

Mechanical design

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical/ aerospace/ civil engineering, physics, or math

Tools

NX/Teamcenter

Ansys/Femap/Nastran

Abaqus

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 Propulsion Structures Engineer, reporting to the Senior Manager, Propulsion Flight Hardware, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of human-rated space stations.

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

Responsibilities

• Serve as responsible engineer for propulsion mechanical hardware: tubing assemblies, brackets, mounts, and propulsion-owned secondary structure.
• Act as the primary interface between the Propulsion and Structures teams, coordinating loads, interfaces, and design requirements across both groups.
• Perform structural analysis to drive design decisions, covering static and dynamic loads, vibration, thermo-mechanical, and other environmental considerations.
• Perform mechanical design and analysis, develop manufacturing drawings, test plans, and concepts of operations, and follow hardware from design release through build and acceptance.
• Lead trade studies and own interfaces with adjacent subsystems.
• Work directly with fabricators and technicians to improve designs, mature processes, and resolve build issues.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, civil engineering, physics, or math or equivalent experience.
• 4+ years of experience with CAD and FEA software packages.
• 4+ years of experience designing and developing mechanical components or systems.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Working knowledge of propulsion systems; time spent in or alongside a propulsion team is a strong plus.
• Structural design and analysis of components for a high-performance vehicle or spacecraft.
• Demonstrated failure analysis and root cause investigation skills.
• Experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Design work in recent versions of NX/Teamcenter.
• Analysis work in recent versions of Ansys, Femap/Nastran, or Abaqus.
• Experience with GD&T implementation and analysis per ASME Y14.5.
• Familiarity with spacecraft design and test specifications such as SMC-S-016 and NASA-STD-5001.

Additional Requirements

• Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends to support critical mission milestones.

Pay Range

• Senior Propulsion Engineer Level III: $137,760.00 - $195,552.00
• Staff Propulsion Engineer Level IV: $162,360.00 - $230,472.00
• Principal Propulsion Engineer Level V: $186,960.00 - $265,392.00

Pay Range: California

$137,760 - $265,392 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
• other discounts and perks
• 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.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Vast’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.