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Jobs · Information Technology · California

Manager, Thermal Control Systems

Vast · Long Beach, CA · 2 days ago
On-siteInformation Technology$155k–$220k/yrFull-time

Responsibilities

  • Lead and mentor a team of mechanical engineers responsible for thermal and fluid system hardware.
  • Set technical direction, prioritize development efforts, and foster a culture of ownership and continuous improvement.
  • Provide guidance on design decisions, analyses, and test plans, ensuring high-quality engineering outputs.
  • Manage workloads, support professional development, and ensure on-time execution of deliverables.
  • Own the architecture and performance of thermal control system hardware, including tubing, trays, and fluid loops.
  • Lead hardware through its full lifecycle—from design trades through manufacturing, qualification, launch prep, and on-orbit operation.
  • Drive rapid prototyping and iterative testing to mature designs in a fast-paced environment.
  • Oversee systems engineering tasks, including analyses, requirements, and cross-team integration (i.e. Avionics, Software, Mission Operations, etc.).
  • Lead internal and external design reviews and ensure hardware meets human-rated reliability and safety requirements.
  • Ensure manufacturable, production-ready designs and collaborate closely with technicians, manufacturing engineers, and integration teams.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related discipline.
  • Experience working with fluid systems.
  • 5+ years of hands-on hardware experience (fabrication, assembly, and/or testing).
  • 1+ year leading or mentoring engineers.

Preferred Skills & Experience

  • Leadership experience in a fast-paced hardware development environment.
  • Ownership of mechanical or fluid systems across multiple development phases.
  • Strong problem-solving and root-cause analysis skills.
  • First-principles engineering and ability to guide team-level trade studies.
  • Experience with rotating machinery.
  • Proficiency in NX, GD&T, and tolerance analysis.
  • Structural analysis experience (hand calcs, FEMAP, ANSYS).
  • Familiarity with machining, welding, brazing, and tube bending.
  • Excellent communication and leadership skills in a mission-driven environment.

Additional Requirements

  • Ability to travel up to 5%.
  • Willingness to support occasional evening or weekend work during critical mission phases.

Pay Range

Manager, Thermal Control Systems: $154,980 - $219,996

Pay Range: California $154,980—$219,996 USD

Compensation And Benefits

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.
  • Other discounts and perks.

Food Perks

We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & 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.

Export Control Compliance Status

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 22 C.F.R. 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing.

Equal Opportunity

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.

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