Manufacturing Engineering, Structures

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and capital-efficient approach. Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station to support a continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and supporting a growing space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Haven Demo’s 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to design, build, and operate its own spacecraft in orbit.

Next, Haven-1 is targeted to become the world’s first commercial space station, with launch anticipated in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules. Additionally, the company recently announced two new offerings leveraging its space station components and the heritage of Haven Demo:
Vast Satellite, a high-power satellite product line; and Vast Lunar Systems, power, communications, and habitats for the Moon.

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 capable of manufacturing America’s next space station. The company plans to develop future habitats and systems for Mars, dedicated modules for government partners, and other crewed systems designed to unlock the expanding long-term space economy.

Vast is looking for a Manufacturing Engineer, Structures, to help develop the systems behind our human-rated space stations. You will drive the development and execution of human-rated vehicle processes as Haven-1 transitions from design to a flight-ready station.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach, CA location. Responsibilities:
Responsible for the build and inspection process for the assembly of the primary structure

Develop and refine manufacturing processes, including: welding, trimming, shearing, rolling, bending, and more to meet all design and business requirements including safety, quality, efficiency and delivery

Document and standardize welding and other processes and own the creation and modification of manufacturing planning/work instructions

Collaborate with other engineers, subject matter experts, and technicians to solve large-scale production challenges

Work with design engineers to evaluate designs for manufacturability and implementation in a rapidly evolving production environment

Resolve product non-conformances and collaborate with the quality team to implement root cause corrective actions

Help manufacturing and engineering teams to identify, plan, and execute capital equipment, machine, and layout upgrades to meet volume production demand

Develop and refine floor layouts, capacity models, and product flow analysis to ensure on-time vehicle delivery to manifest

Minimum Qualifications:

B.S. in mechanical, aerospace, manufacturing or electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, or a related technical field

Manufacturing experience (including internships) managing a product/product line across multiple work centers and/or departments, fluid, pressurized, propulsion, or environmental control hardware in design, manufacturing, or test2-4+ years of experience for Manufacturing Engineer II4-6+ years of experience for Senior Manufacturing Engineer Hands-on fabrication, assembly, and/or integration experience; CAD proficiency (NX preferred)
Preferred

Skills & Experience:

Hands-on experience building or testing hardware, in industry or through student teams such as Formula SAE, rocketry, Cube Sat, or robotics

Experience with aerospace, spacecraft, propulsion, or other safety-critical or high-reliability hardware

Experience taking designs or processes from concept through build or test, and…