Space Station Structural Test Technician (Mojave)

Vast Space Llc.; California; Hybride; USD 32 000 - 78 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Company equity

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off

Parental leave

401(k) retirement plan

Onsite meals and snacks

Résumé du poste

Vast is seeking a Test Technician in Mojave to support Haven-1 structural testing. You will maintain, upgrade and operate the Haven-1 Primary Structural Test Stand, install hull modules, and service hydraulic and pneumatic systems.

You must have 5+ years hands-on technical experience, read drawings and P&IDs, and be able to lift 50 lbs with overtime as needed. The role offers full-time status and a comprehensive benefits package in California.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on technical experience in testing, manufacturing, industrial maintenance, or a related hands-on field.
• Proficient reading and working from mechanical drawings and P&IDs
• Demonstrated experience with at least one of: hydraulic systems, high-pressure gas systems, or welding/fabrication.
• High school diploma or equivalency certificate.

Responsabilités

• Maintain, upgrade and operate the Haven-1 Primary Structural Test Stand at Vast’s Mojave Test Site.
• Install the Haven-1 Space Station Hull into the test stand for static structural testing.
• Service, troubleshoot, and maintain hydraulic actuators and associated hydraulic plumbing used to apply structural test loads.
• Service and maintain the GN2 (gaseous nitrogen) pressurization system, including regulators, valves, and associated high-pressure plumbing.
• Support Test Engineers in the execution of static load tests on the space station hull, including pre-test setup, run support, and post-test teardown/inspection.
• Perform routine and corrective maintenance on test stand mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems to keep stands mission-ready.
• Flex to support other rocket engine, component, and thruster test stands at the Mojave Test Site as testing priorities and schedules require.
• Follow all safety protocols for high-pressure systems, hydraulics, and heavy equipment; identify and elevate safety concerns proactively.
• Maintain accurate test stand configuration, maintenance, and work order records.

Connaissances

Reading drawings

P&IDs

High-pressure systems

Hydraulics troubleshooting

Mechanical maintenance

Formation

High school diploma or equivalent

Outils

Hydraulic actuators

GN2 gas systems

Test stand instrumentation

Load cells

Pressure transducers

Description du poste

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 Test Technician, reporting to the Structures Test Engineer, 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,non-exempt position located in our Mojave location.

Responsibilities:

• Maintaining, upgrading and operating the Haven-1 Primary Structural Test Stand at VAST’s Mojave Test Site.
• Installing the Haven-1 Space Station Hull into the test stand for static structural testing.
• Service, troubleshoot, and maintain hydraulic actuators and associated hydraulic plumbing used to apply structural test loads.
• Service and maintain the GN2 (gaseous nitrogen) pressurization system, including regulators, valves, and associated high-pressure plumbing.
• Support Test Engineers in the execution of static load tests on the space station hull, including pre-test setup, run support, and post-test teardown/inspection.
• Perform routine and corrective maintenance on test stand mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems to keep stands mission-ready.
• Flex to support other rocket engine, component, and thruster test stands at the Mojave Test Site as testing priorities and schedules require.
• Follow all safety protocols for high-pressure systems, hydraulics, and heavy equipment; identify and escalate safety concerns proactively.
• Maintain accurate test stand configuration, maintenance, and work order records.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 5+ years of hands-on technical experience in testing, manufacturing, industrial maintenance, or a related hands-on field.
• Proficient reading and working from mechanical drawings and P&IDs
• Demonstrated experience with at least one of: hydraulic systems, high-pressure gas systems, or welding/fabrication.
• High school diploma or equivalency certificate.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Background as a pipefitter, hydraulics technician, or heavy machine operator with hydraulics repair experience.
• Experience with high-pressure pneumatic/gas system plumbing (e.g., GN2, GHe).
• Familiarity with test stand instrumentation (load cells, pressure transducers, strain gauges).
• Experience operating mechanical load frames for structural testing.
• Experience servicing hydraulic actuators, hydraulic pump units and hydraulic servo valves.
• With common high pressure and hydraulics fittings.

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs unassisted and work in an outdoor, physically demanding test environment (from freezing conditions to temps up to 120 degrees fahrenheit).
• Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones.

Pay Range:

Pay Range: California

$22.87 - $56.92 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.

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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 be considered for deemed export licensing. To assist Vast in assessing its export compliance obligations in relation to your application, please identify which ITAR/EAR status applies to you:

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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 aconfidential 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 measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis 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.