Test Engineer, Structures Test

<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>Test Engineer,</strong> reporting to the <strong>Director of Structures Test</strong>, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. This will be a<strong> full-time, exempt</strong> position located in our<strong> Long Beach</strong> location. In this role, you will support the ongoing development of our Haven-1 space station module, with a primary focus on primary and secondary structures testing. You will work closely with design REs, test technicians, and other teams such as Manufacturing, Integration, and Avionics to meet design/mission requirements and industry standards.</p> <p><strong>Responsibilities: </strong></p> <ul> <li>Work under the direction of the Director of Structures Test to develop and execute testing on primary and secondary structure of the Haven-1 Space Station</li> <li>Mentor other engineers and technicians on the team</li> <li>Adhere to, enforce, and improve the test processes and good practices of Vast and the test organization</li> <li>Produce professional and traceable documentation, including electrical, mechanical, and fluid schematics of the test systems</li> <li>Work with responsible engineers to design, prepare, and execute test campaigns. This includes the manufacture of new test stands and/or operation of existing resources</li> <li>Perform all necessary design, analysis, and project management</li> <li>Conduct TRR (Test Readiness Review), PDR (Preliminary Design Review) and/or CDR (Critical Design Review) before all design/tests are started</li> <li>Find creative solutions to unique issues in order to save cost and schedule while improving overall quality and safety</li> <li>Come up with great ideas and be empowered to make them a reality</li> <li>Design, analyze, and own the test setup</li> <li>Continuous learning/Improvement—and share them with your team members</li> <li>Perform other duties as assigned</li> </ul> <p><strong>Minimum Qualifications:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Bachelor's degree or higher in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or other engineering discipline</li> <li>3+ years of experience in an engineering environment (test, launch, manufacturing, etc.)</li> </ul> <p><strong>Preferred Skills &amp; Experience:</strong></p> <ul> <li> Ability to design and perform product environmental testing based on the requirements provided in SMC-S-016, GEVS NASA-STD-7000a, MIL STD 810G. etc.</li> <li>Experience planning and executing engineering operations in a time-sensitive and high-risk environment</li> <li>Own assembly, checkouts and development test stands</li> <li>Ability to quickly understand and troubleshoot new/existing systems</li> <li>Experience writing and executing test plans/procedures in collaboration with design engineers</li> <li>Experience with designing and implementing instrumentation systems</li> <li>Experience in structural design and analysis of test fixtures</li> <li>Experience working across engineering groups to define requirements and implement solutions</li> <li>Execute deliverables based on prioritized implementation plans and timelines</li> <li>Ability to rapidly change priorities between several projects</li> <li>Identify key unknowns and quickly close knowledge gaps</li> <li>Deliver the highest value results quickly and iterate towards successive milestones</li> <li>Perform structured root cause analysis of test failures</li> <li>Experience designing and/or working with closed-loop control systems (hydraulic/ pressure systems)</li> <li>Experience with working with DAQ software i.e. NI, Beckoff, and/or Dewesoft</li> <li>Experience working with DAQ hardware i.e. NI, Beckoff, and/or Dewesoft</li> <li>Experience operating / working with high-pressure gas systems</li> <li>Experience generating test system P&amp;IDs (Piping and Instrumentation Diagram) using Visio / Lucidchart or equivalent</li> <li>Experience with creating and maintaining project schedules with Smartsheet, Project or equivalent</li> <li>Experience with SVN, GIT, or other version management systems</li> <li>Experience with Teamcenter or other PLM systems</li> <li>Experience with CAD systems, NX preferable</li> <li>Experience with JIRA and/or Confluence</li> <li>Experience with selection of precision sensor and measurement devices (i.e. loadcells, thermocouples, pressure sensors, deflection transducers)</li> <li>Ability to thrive as an individual contributor and as part of a team</li> <li>Ability to add something unique and positive to our team</li> <li>Generally high level of all-around awesomeness</li> </ul> <p><strong>Additional Requirements:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Must be able to travel to our Mojave Test site (~25% of the time)</li> <li>Must be able to work varying hours/shifts and available for extended hours as well as weekends when needed</li> <li>Must be able to stoop, bend, crawl, and be able to maneuver in tight spaces; physically able to handle items weighing up to 25lbs (unassisted)</li> <li>Ability and desire to perform in a fast-paced, rapidly changing work environment</li> </ul><div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="title">Pay Range: California</div><div class="pay-range"><span>$112,340</span><span class="divider">&mdash;</span><span>$195,552 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>