Senior Manager, Fluid Systems Design

<div class="content-intro"><p>At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. Vast is developing next-generation space stations 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. Using an incremental, hardware-rich and low-cost approach, Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station. 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, followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.</p></div><p>Vast is looking for a <strong>Senior Manager of Fluid Systems Design</strong>, reporting to the <strong>VP of Fluid Systems Engineering</strong>, to support the development of systems that will be required for the design and build of human-rated space stations.</p> <p>This will be a <strong>full-time</strong>, <strong>exempt</strong> position located in our <strong>Long Beach</strong> location.</p> <p><strong>Responsibilities: </strong></p> <ul> <li>Lead design team translating architecture choices for propulsion, TCS and ECLSS systems into vehicle packaging for future Haven modules.</li> <li>Own component-level design practices for propulsion, TCS and ECLSS.</li> <li>Develop process tools to streamline design activities, enabling component responsible engineers to be force multipliers for the design team.</li> <li>Lead team of designers across the fluid systems engineering team, flexing resources as needed, and building cross-system experience in the team.</li> <li>Interface with structures design team on overall vehicle integration, establishing and enforcing standard design and modeling practices.</li> <li>Collaborate with the fluid system analysis team on structural, fracture, and dynamics requirements for design validation.</li> <li>Partner with the fluid system test team to design ground support equipment and test stands needed for development, qualification and acceptance testing.</li> <li>Build and mentor a team of design engineers, establishing clear ownership and accountability for world-class design work.</li> <li>Drive communication and collaboration between fluid systems design, structures, and operations, resolving manufacturing and integration challenges.</li> <li>Support risk management, CDR/dCDR action item tracking, and lessons-learned capture from prior missions.</li> <li>Partner with information systems team on design tool development and deployment.</li> <li>Manage technical interfaces with external partners and government agencies on propulsion system requirements and supplier qualification.</li> <li>Coordinate with external research partners on advanced system development and evaluations.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Minimum Qualifications:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or other technical discipline.</li> <li>2+ years of hands-on engineering experience followed by 2-5 years of experience in systems engineering, technical project management, or customer facing program roles in aerospace.</li> <li>8+ years<strong> </strong>of experience in system design, with demonstrated component-level design authority on flight hardware, preferably with propulsion, thermal or ECLSS systems.</li> <li>2+ years of experience overseeing / managing a technical engineering team.</li> <li>Expertise in fluid system design including pressure vessels, tubing routings, mechanical fluid seals, control valves, fans, filters and/or ducting systems.</li> <li>Experience with high-pressure fluid systems including fracture criticality.</li> <li>Familiarity with P&amp;IDs, feed system ConOps, and fill and drain considerations for vehicle integration.</li> <li>Demonstrated ability to lead multi-disciplinary engineering teams and drive technical decisions to closure.</li> <li>Experience supporting design reviews (CDR, PDR) and managing associated action items and risk tracking.</li> <li>Strong cross-functional communication skills comfortable working across structures, GNC, avionics, software, and manufacturing.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Preferred Skills &amp; Experience:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Experience building in-house design team capability.</li> <li>Background in mission operations, covering propulsion, thermal or ECLSS systems.</li> <li>Prior work with component and HITL test environments.</li> <li>Startup or fast-paced development environment experience.</li> <li>Familiarity with electric propulsion system interfaces (PPU, mass flow control).</li> <li>Experience with tubing assembly and design for manufacturing / design for assembly.</li> <li>Background in fracture mechanics or composite overwrap pressure vessel certification.</li> </ul><div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="title">Pay Range: California</div><div class="pay-range"><span>$164,000</span><span class="divider">&mdash;</span><span>$232,800 USD</span></div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion"><p style="line-height: 1;"><strong>COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS<br></strong><br>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 &amp; 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.</p> <p style="line-height: 1;"><strong><br>U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS<br><br></strong>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 <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-22/section-120.62">22 C.F.R. § 120.62</a> 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.<br><br></p> <p style="line-height: 1;"><strong>EQUAL OPPORTUNITY</strong><br><br>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.</p></div>