Integration Build Engineering Specialist

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. We are 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.

About the role

Vast is looking for an Integration Build Specialist II to support the development of the systems required for the build and test of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. This is a full-time, exempt position located in Long Beach, reporting to the Manager, Integration.

Responsibilities

• Support operations with Integration Technicians and supporting Engineering REs
• Be a permanent engineering presence to ensure operations are unblocked and to find solutions to keep work moving if blockers or Non Conformances arise
• Plan, schedule, prepare, coordinate, direct, and exercise functional authority for completion of tests
• Collaborate with the distributed engineering organizations to define and manage test plans, requirements, and schedules
• Ensure integration procedures are continuously evolving to reflect the most efficient assembly practices
• Develop, qualify, and refine manufacturing processes to meet all requirements including safety, quality, efficiency, and delivery
• Collaborate with other engineers, subject matter experts, and technicians to solve complex production issues
• Act as test director and provide status updates and run handoff and other tagups
• Document and provide resolution to non-conformances and collaborate with the quality team to implement root cause corrective actions

Requirements

• 5+ years of hands-on integration, build, or test experience in lieu of a degree
• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time
• Willingness to work overtime or weekends to support critical mission milestones
• Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted
• Specific certifications, as appropriate

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, electrical, or similar field with 1+ years of related engineering experience (preferred)
• Hands-on hardware integration and testing experience
• Experience working with technicians and running multi-person operations
• Experience writing test plans, procedures, presentations, and providing go/no-go judgment and rationale
• Experience with the build, assembly, integration, or test of complex assemblies and systems
• Familiarity with Linux and Python environments
• Ability to make independent judgments with limited information
• Experience planning and executing vehicle-level system verifications, leak checks, or environmental tests
• Comfortable working in a high-stress environment balancing several projects at any given time, and the flexibility to adjust for abrupt changes in strategic direction

Pay

California pay range: $112,300—$159,450 USD. Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand.

Benefits

• Company equity for full-time employees
• 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 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
• Other discounts and perks
• Exceptional food perks: free snacks, drip coffee, onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals; subsidized lunch

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls and must be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing.