Test Engineer, Structures Test
Listed on 2026-08-07
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Engineering
Systems Engineer, Test Engineer, Aerospace / Aviation / Avionics, Engineering Design & Technologists
Test Engineer, Structures Test
Vast is looking for a Test Engineer, reporting to the Director of Structures Test, 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. In this role, you will support the ongoing development of our Haven-1 space station module, with a primary focus on primary and secondary structures testing.
You will work closely with design REs, test technicians, and other teams such as Manufacturing, Integration, and Avionics to meet design/mission requirements and industry standards.
Responsibilities:
- Work under the direction of the Director of Structures Test to develop and execute testing on primary and secondary structure of the Haven-1 Space Station
- Mentor other engineers and technicians on the team
- Adhere to, enforce, and improve the test processes and good practices of Vast and the test organization
- Produce professional and traceable documentation, including electrical, mechanical, and fluid schematics of the test systems
- Work with responsible engineers to design, prepare, and execute test campaigns. This includes the manufacture of new test stands and/or operation of existing resources
- Perform all necessary design, analysis, and project management
- Conduct TRR (Test Readiness Review), PDR (Preliminary Design Review) and/or CDR (Critical Design Review) before all design/tests are started
- Find creative solutions to unique issues in order to save cost and schedule while improving overall quality and safety
- Come up with great ideas and be empowered to make them a reality
- Design, analyze, and own the test setup
- Continuous learning/Improvement—and share them with your team members
- Perform other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree or higher in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or other engineering discipline
- 3+ years of experience in an engineering environment (test, launch, manufacturing, etc.)
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Ability to design and perform product environmental testing based on the requirements provided in SMC-S-016, GEVS NASA-STD-7000a, MIL STD 810G. etc.
- Experience planning and executing engineering operations in a time-sensitive and high-risk environment
- Own assembly, checkouts and development test stands
- Ability to quickly understand and troubleshoot new/existing systems
- Experience writing and executing test plans/procedures in collaboration with design engineers
- Experience with designing and implementing instrumentation systems
- Experience in structural design and analysis of test fixtures
- Experience working across engineering groups to define requirements and implement solutions
- Execute deliverables based on prioritized implementation plans and timelines
- Ability to rapidly change priorities between several projects
- Identify key unknowns and quickly close knowledge gaps
- Deliver the highest value results quickly and iterate towards successive milestones
- Perform structured root cause analysis of test failures
- Experience designing and/or working with closed-loop control systems (hydraulic/ pressure systems)
- Experience with working with DAQ software i.e. NI, Beckoff, and/or Dewesoft
- Experience working with DAQ hardware i.e. NI, Beckoff, and/or Dewesoft
- Experience operating / working with high-pressure gas systems
- Experience generating test system P&IDs (Piping and Instrumentation Diagram) using Visio / Lucidchart or equivalent
- Experience with creating and maintaining project schedules with Smartsheet, Project or equivalent
- Experience with SVN, GIT, or other version management systems
- Experience with Teamcenter or other PLM systems
- Experience with CAD systems, NX preferable
- Experience with JIRA and/or Confluence
- Experience with selection of precision sensor and measurement devices (i.e. loadcells, thermocouples, pressure sensors, deflection transducers)
- Ability to thrive as an individual contributor and as part of a team
- Ability to add something unique and positive to our team
- Generally high level of all-around awesomeness
Additional Requirements:
- Must be able to travel to our Mojave Test site (~25% of…
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