Propulsion Engineer - Mechanical Design

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and low-cost approach. Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station 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. 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 in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules. Additionally, the company recently announced Vast Satellite, a high-power satellite product line leveraging its space station components and the heritage of Haven Demo.

Headquartered in Long Beach, California, and with more than 1,000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital, Vast has built the facilities required to manufacture and operate America’s next space station. The company plans to develop future habitats and systems for the Moon and Mars, dedicated space stations for government partners, and other crewed systems that will unlock the expanding long-term space economy.

Vast is looking for a Propulsion Engineer - Mechanical Design, reporting to the Senior Manager, Propulsion Flight Hardware, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of human-rated space stations.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

• Serve as responsible engineer for propulsion mechanical hardware: tubing assemblies, brackets, mounts, and propulsion-owned secondary structure.

• Act as the primary interface between the Propulsion and Structures teams, coordinating loads, interfaces, and design requirements across both groups.

• Perform structural analysis to drive design decisions, covering static and dynamic loads, vibration, thermo-mechanical, and other environmental considerations.

• Perform mechanical design and analysis, develop manufacturing drawings, test plans, and concepts of operations, and follow hardware from design release through build and acceptance.

• Lead trade studies and own interfaces with adjacent subsystems.

• Work directly with fabricators and technicians to improve designs, mature processes, and resolve build issues.

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, civil engineering, physics, or math or equivalent experience.

• 4+ years of experience with CAD and FEA software packages.

• 4+ years of experience designing and developing mechanical components or systems.

• Working knowledge of propulsion systems; time spent in or alongside a propulsion team is a strong plus.

• Structural design and analysis of components for a high-performance vehicle or spacecraft.

• Demonstrated failure analysis and root cause investigation skills.

• Experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

• Design work in recent versions of NX/Teamcenter.

• Analysis work in recent versions of Ansys, Femap/Nastran, or Abaqus.

• Experience with GD&T implementation and analysis per ASME Y14.5.

• Familiarity with spacecraft design and test specifications such as