Tooling Engineer — Space Station Hardware & Fixtures

Vast Space Llc.; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 86,000 - 122,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company equity

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Paid time off

Parental leave

Disability insurance

Life insurance

401(k) retirement plan

ClassPass credits

Spring Health mental healthcare

Onsite meals and snacks

Lunch subsidies

Job summary

Vast is seeking a Tooling Engineer in Long Beach to design and implement fixtures and tooling for Haven‑1 assembly and handling. You will work with multiple teams to define tooling interfaces, perform mechanical analysis, and develop maintenance plans for fixtures.

The role requires a BS in Mechanical Engineering, NX or similar CAD experience, and hands-on experience with engineered assemblies and FEA. Willingness to work evenings or weekends to meet mission milestones and lift up to 25 lbs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Experience with GD&T.
• 1+ years of aerospace/mechanical/automotive design and/or tooling.
• 1+ years of NX or other 3D CAD packages.
• Hands-on experience with handling, lifting, or building engineered assemblies.
• Experience making and running FEA models on structural components.
• Knowledge of project planning and execution practices, including logic-linked schedule management.

Responsibilities

• Own the design, activation, implementation, and support fabrication, of fixtures and tooling required for Haven‑1 assembly, lifting, and handling.
• Work with Integration and Manufacturing to define vehicle integration flow, manufacturing process, concepts and tooling interfaces.
• Collaborate with vehicle engineering and production to define fixture and tooling specifications, qualification plans, and introduce to production.
• Perform mechanical analysis for spacecraft fixtures.
• Develop operation and maintenance plans for all test fixtures and tooling. Assist the facilities manager(s) in all aspects of project implementation as needed.
• Manage schedule on assigned projects including critical next steps, deadlines, and outcome.
• Manage vendor relationships and coordinate meetings to identify new technologies and how they can be applied to Vast’s cutting edge applications.
• Develop, test, and implement tool improvements to yield time savings or tolerance improvements.
• Coordinate tooling modifications related to part, production, or other changes.
• Work closely with engineering stakeholders and technicians to solve production‑related issues.

Skills

GD&T

Aerospace design experience

FEA modeling

Project planning

Hands-on assembly

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

NX CAD

Job description

Vast is seeking a Tooling Engineer in Long Beach to design and implement fixtures and tooling for Haven‑1 assembly and handling. You will work with multiple teams to define tooling interfaces, perform mechanical analysis, and develop maintenance plans for fixtures.

The role requires a BS in Mechanical Engineering, NX or similar CAD experience, and hands-on experience with engineered assemblies and FEA. Willingness to work evenings or weekends to meet mission milestones and lift up to 25 lbs.