Director, Fluid Systems Analysis

<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>Director, Fluid System Analysis</strong>, reporting to the<strong> Vice President of Fluid Systems, </strong>to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. </p> <p>This will be a full-time, <strong>exempt </strong>position located in our <strong>Long Beach</strong> location. </p> <p><strong>Key Responsibilities </strong></p> <ul> <li>Manage and lead a team of Propulsion and Thermal analysts, including hiring, mentoring, and technical development</li> <li>Set standards for analysis methods, documentation, and best practices in a fast-paced, evolving environment</li> <li>Expand company capabilities in analysis by validating and establishing methods and practices across structural, fluid, and thermal domains</li> <li>Create and maintain FEA models of propulsion components to support design and certification</li> <li>Define and review critical loads and load cases in collaboration with GNC, fluids analysis, dynamics/loads engineers and design teams</li> <li>Mentor design and analysis engineers in analysis methods and validation via testing to review/approve component drawings with feedback</li> <li>Partner with test engineering to plan and execute structural and dynamic tests, and perform associated analyses</li> <li>Oversee multiphase propellant feed system and microgravity fluid behavior modeling, including vaporization, condensation, propellant acquisition and slosh dynamics</li> <li>Guide high-pressure gas system analysis, transient flow behavior (e.g., water hammer, adiabatic compression), and thruster plume impingement studies</li> <li>Support development and validation of propulsion fluid systems using best practices </li> <li>Integrate simulation results with ground and flight test data to validate models and refine designs</li> <li>Partner closely with design, manufacturing, propulsion, thermal, and GN&amp;C teams to ensure analysis informs critical decisions</li> <li>Present technical findings at design reviews and contribute to NASA certification processes</li> <li>Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions when issues arise</li> </ul> <p><strong>Minimum Qualifications</strong></p> <ul> <li>B.S. degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related Engineering field</li> <li>8+ years of relevant aerospace design and analysis experience</li> <li>2+ years of experience overseeing / managing a technical engineering or analysis team</li> <li>Strong expertise in structural analysis, including FEA modeling, stress analysis, and load case development</li> <li>Experience with thermo fluid analysis tools (CFD, 1-D system modeling, etc.)</li> <li>Knowledge of mechanical design, manufacturing processes, and design-for-manufacturability principles<br><br></li> </ul> <p><strong>Preferred Qualifications</strong></p> <ul> <li>M.S. or higher in Aerospace, Mechanical, or related engineering</li> <li>Experience in human spaceflight hardware design and analysis</li> <li>Expertise in multiphase fluid dynamics, propellant management, and slosh modeling under low-gravity conditions</li> <li>Experience with thermo-mechanical fatigue, fracture analysis, and spectrum loading fatigue analysis</li> <li>Hands-on experience with high-pressure gas systems, transient fluid dynamics and heat exchangers</li> <li>5+ years of experience with liquid or gas rocket engine combustion devices, including RCS design</li> <li>Track record of leading multidisciplinary teams linking analysis predictions with test and qualification data to accelerate hardware development and certification</li> </ul> <p> </p><div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="title">Pay Range: California</div><div class="pay-range"><span>$203,360</span><span class="divider">&mdash;</span><span>$232,800 USD</span></div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion"><div style="line-height: 1;"> </div> <div style="line-height: 1;"><strong>COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS</strong></div> <div style="line-height: 1;"> </div> <div style="line-height: 1;"> <div> <div data-qa="message_pane"> <div> <div id="message-list"> <div id="message-list"> <div data-qa="slack_kit_scrollbar"> <div> <div data-qa="slack_kit_list"> <div id="message-list_1770163429.476589" data-qa="virtual-list-item" data-item-key="1770163429.476589"> <div data-qa="message_container" data-qa-unprocessed="false" data-qa-placeholder="false" data-msg-ts="1770163429.476589" data-msg-channel-id="D1T52LDR4"> <div data-qa-hover="true"> <div> <div> <div> <div data-qa="message_content"> <div> <div data-qa="message-text"> <div data-qa="block-kit-renderer"> <div> <div> <div>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.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="message-list_bottomSpacer" data-qa="virtual-list-item" data-item-key="bottomSpacer"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div style="line-height: 1;"> <p><strong>U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS</strong></p> 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.</div> <div style="line-height: 1;"> </div> <p style="line-height: 1;"><strong>EQUAL OPPORTUNITY</strong></p> <div style="line-height: 1;">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.</div></div>