Senior Finite Element Vehicle Architect Engineering - Structures Long , CA

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 Finite Element Vehicle Architect reporting to the Senior Manager, Dynamics and Loads 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.

The Structural Dynamics team is responsible for low and high-frequency load & environment predictions for all Vast space stations during ground transportation, ascent, and on-orbit operations. This role will be responsible for building, maintaining, and managing the vehicle systems-level Finite Element Model of our Haven space station program, and oversee future FEA engineering needs across Vast’s future product portfolio.

Responsibilities:

• Create and maintain FEA models of vehicle level systems and space station program
• Perform structural dynamics analysis that informs structural sizing for strength, mass, and cost optimization
• Collaborate closely with design engineers in dynamics and static analysis methods
• Communicate with design organization to ensure vehicle prediction models match design intent
• Expand company capability in analysis through validating and establishing methods and practices
• Work with hardware owners and test engineering to plan and execute vibration tests, as well as perform supporting analyses

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering (or equivalent)
• Proficiency in commercial FEA software (ie Femap/Nastran, Abaqus, Ansys )
• Strong grasp of structural mechanic fundamentals used for dynamic response prediction (single degree of freedom systems, damping, beam bending)

Preferred

Skills & Experience:

• Spacecraft and/or Payload background with experience through the entire system lifecycle from concept, design, production, integration, test, launch, to operation support
• Demonstrated expertise with Nastran
• Automation and Workflow Generation for FEA softwares
• Working understanding of a design load cycle and how it relates to analysis and test
• Knowledge of spacecraft analysis and launch load environments and industry standard documents (NASA-STD-5001, SMC-S-016, etc.)
• Establishment of of company internal specifications or best practices

Pay Range:
California

$137,760 - $230,472 USD

We calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Base salary will…