Materials & Processes Engineer, Metallics

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 Materials & Processes Engineer – Metallics, reporting to the Materials & Processes Lead, 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.

• Provide Materials & Processes engineering expertise for metallic materials used across spacecraft structures, mechanisms, pressure systems, propulsion systems, and other flight hardware

• Support material selection and qualification for metals including aluminum, stainless steels, titanium, nickel-based alloys, copper alloys, and other aerospace materials

• Develop, review, and maintain material and process specifications, engineering standards, and acceptance criteria.

• Provide technical guidance for manufacturing processes including machining, forging, casting, heat treatment, welding, brazing, additive manufacturing, and surface treatments

• Evaluate material properties and manufacturing processes against structural, thermal, environmental, fatigue, fracture, corrosion, and life requirements

• Develop and execute material and process qualification test plans, including characterization of mechanical and physical properties. Develop and maintain material allowables and process controls

• Perform and support failure analysis and root cause investigations involving metallic flight hardware and manufacturing processes. Support nonconformance investigations, MRB activities, corrective actions, and disposition

• Work closely with Supplier Quality Engineering and Supply Chain to evaluate supplier capabilities, resolve technical issues, and develop critical suppliers

• Serve as highest technical authority on selected processes, alloy classes, or advanced testing techniques

• Mentor and raise the technical level of more junior M&P engineers across the team

• Represent M&P organization in program-level reviews and lead cross-functional initiatives

• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field

• Lvl. I