Test Engineer, Thermal Control Systems Long , California,

Staff Test Engineer, Thermal Control Systems

Long Beach, California, United States

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. Vast is 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. Using an incremental, hardware-rich and low-cost approach, Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station.

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, followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time.

If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.

Vast is looking for a Staff Test Engineer, Thermal Control Systems
, reporting to the Manager, Thermal Test Engineering
, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.

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

Responsibilities:

• Lead definition of hardware/software best practices and standardization for the wider test engineering organization.
• Own and drive the full lifecycle of assigned thermal control system test campaigns, from early concept development through execution, data analysis, and closeout, supporting both near-term and long-term space habitat missions.
• Act as a go-to technical resource and mentor, helping develop talent while maintaining high standards for safety, quality, and data integrity.
• Collaborate closely with thermal design, analysis, systems, integration, and manufacturing teams to provide input on manufacturability, assembly, and testability of thermal hardware, including tubing, heat exchangers, cold plates, pumps, valves, heaters, and MLI.
• Lead cross-functional test initiatives and scoped projects, delivering everything from analytical assessments and case studies to the design, build, and instrumentation of complex, high-fidelity test environments and ground support equipment (GSE).
• Perform hands-on assembly, integration, instrumentation, and testing of thermal and fluid systems, ensuring compliance with engineering specifications, safety protocols, and industry standards.
• Develop, document, and maintain detailed test plans, CONOPs, procedures, work instructions, and manufacturing plans to ensure consistent, traceable, and repeatable execution of thermal system testing and assembly activities.
• Establish and enforce rigorous test traceability, documenting all phases of design, planning, execution, and post-processed data to ensure alignment with subsystem performance requirements and program-level milestones.
• Tackle complex technical challenges by performing deep root cause investigations, coordinating with technicians, engineers, suppliers, and leadership to implement robust, long-lasting corrective actions.
• Serve as a technical authority with suppliers, leading reviews and approvals of manufacturing and test processes to ensure timely delivery of high-quality thermal control components and test hardware.
• Provide senior technical input in design and test reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR, etc.), shaping decisions to improve manufacturability, testability, reliability, and overall system performance.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives by identifying systemic opportunities to improve test efficiency, manufacturing yield, data quality, and overall program execution, and by influencing adoption across teams.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 15+ years of experience across thermal systems, fluid systems, manufacturing engineering, and/or test engineering in aerospace or similarly demanding…