Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and capital-efficient approach. Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station to support a continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and supporting a growing space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Haven Demo’s 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to design, build, and operate its own spacecraft in orbit. Next, Haven-1 is targeted to become the world’s first commercial space station, with launch anticipated in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules. Additionally, the company recently announced two new offerings leveraging its space station components and the heritage of Haven Demo: Vast Satellite, a high-power satellite product line; and Vast Lunar Systems, power, communications, and habitats for the Moon.
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 capable of manufacturing America’s next space station. The company plans to develop future habitats and systems for Mars, dedicated modules for government partners, and other crewed systems designed to unlock the expanding long-term space economy.
Vast is looking for a Lead Propulsion Engineer , reporting to the Senior Manager, Propulsion Flight Hardware , to design and qualify the pressure vessels human-rated space stations.
Haven Station carries composite over-wrapped pressure vessels and metallic tanks for propulsion and for crew life support gases. Vast is building out a team to own the in-house design, development, and flight qualification of these pressure vessels.
You set the technical approach, review the designs and analyses before they release, and take an active technical role yourself. You will run a rapid, iterative development cycle and own the full product lifecycle, from clean-sheet concept all the way to module end-of-life. You lead the team as their manager and technical mentor while staying close to the hardware and driving resolution of the hard problems.
This will be a full-time , exempt position located in our Long Beach location.
Responsibilities:
Lead the pressure vessel team: set technical direction, review the work, and develop the responsible engineers and analysts under you
Serve as technical authority over the Haven Station COPV and metallic tank designs, reviewing and approving releases from the responsible engineers
Set the analysis and test approach for the team: composite layup analysis, stress and fracture, proof, burst, cycle, and stress rupture testing
Lead failure investigations on prototype and qualification hardware and carry the findings into the next design iteration
Own tank requirements and interfaces with Propulsion, ECLSS, and Structures
Support the responsible engineers with the liner supplier, the winder, and the metallic fabrication shops on specifications, deviations, inspection, and acceptance
Work with the matrixed manufacturing engineers on producibility, inspection methods, and a plan to bring winding in house
Write and defend the qualification and fracture control approach for crewed flight
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, materials science, or equivalent experience
4+ years of experience designing, analyzing, or testing pressure vessels or composite structures for flight or other high consequence use
Experience carrying hardware from design through build and test
Preferred Skills & Experience:
Composite overwrapped pressure vessel design, analysis, or test, for propulsion, life support, or any other application
Design and qualification to AIAA S-081 or S-080
Fracture control for crewed spacecraft per NASA-STD-5019
Filament winding pattern design and composite manufacturing
Titanium tank…