Mechanical Engineer , Thermal Control Systems Long , California,

Mechanical Engineer I, Thermal Control Systems

Long Beach, California, United States

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 Mechanical Engineer, Thermal Control Systems reporting to the Manager, Thermal Control Hardware, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.

The TCS team is seen as the cardiovascular system for the space station, and is the first team to put hands on hardware learning to interface test and validate the performance of these components and assemblies. The team will be getting hands-on operating experience with the integrated vehicle, helping to turn on the flight systems for the first time and learning how to operate a space vehicle.

Along the way they will be developing advanced pneumatic, hydraulic, and AVI hardware complimented by system automations and data review tools.

This will be a full

- time
, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Responsibilities:

• Own the design and development of thermal control system and components (i.e. heat exchangers, cold plates, heaters, heat pipes, etc.) for our artificial-gravity space station, from initial design trades to fully functional and validated system.
• Iterate on manufacturing processes and development testing in a fast-paced environment.
• Own the project delivery timeline from early design through production, launch, and orbit insertion.
• Perform systems engineering tasks and fluid analyses.
• Lead design reviews internally and externally with suppliers and customers.
• Work with interdisciplinary stakeholders to ensure the component will integrate with the necessary avionics, software, and mission operations systems.
• Make sure that all designs are manufacturable and reliable.
• Bring technical excellence to everything you do.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's, in Mechanical, Aerospace, or similar field, completed or expected by June 2026
• Ability to work full-time onsite in Long Beach, CA
• Experience working with fluid systems or components.
• 1+ years of academic and/or internship experience working hands-on hardware experience performing fabrication, assembly and/or testing.

Preferred

Skills & Experience:

• Demonstrated ability to own hardware or systems within an integrated engineering team outside a classroom setting.
• Hands-on hardware experience performing fabrication, assembly and/or testing.
• Proactive problem-solving skills such as failure analysis, root cause investigation, and design of experiment creation.
• Ability to perform trade studies using first principles and engineering fundamentals to make clear recommendations even with partial information.
• Experience with rotating machinery.
• Experienced in NX.Solid understanding and application of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and tolerance stack-up analysis.
• Experience with structural analysis methods (hand calcs, FEMAP, ANSYS) in order to…