Space Food Safety Technologist

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. We are building artificial gravity space stations, allowing long‑term stays in space without the adverse effects of zero‑gravity. Our initial crewed space habitat will be Haven‑1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station when it launches into low‑Earth orbit in 2026.

It is part of our stepping stone approach to continuous human presence in LEO. 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.

Position type: full‑time, exempt.

Location:

Long Beach. Reporting to:
Space Food Safety Supervisor.

• Conduct routine inspections and quality tests on raw materials, in‑process production, and finished products to ensure they meet quality standards and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain accurate records of all quality testing, inspections, and findings, including deviations and corrective actions.
• Collect samples of raw materials, packaging components, and finished products for testing, perform internal physical, chemical, and microbiological tests as required, and coordinate with external laboratories for third‑party testing.
• Calibrate and maintain laboratory equipment and instruments used for quality testing to ensure accuracy and reliability of results.
• Assist with internal and external audits and inspections by regulatory agencies and customers, ensuring readiness and compliance during audits.
• Implement and maintain HACCP principles and food safety programmes to ensure the safety and integrity of food products.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to address quality‑related issues and drive quality improvements.
• Investigate quality issues, customer complaints, and non‑conformances to determine root causes and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Assist with and support product evaluation, working cross‑functionally with other team members as needed.

• 3‑5 years minimum of previous experience in a food safety or quality assurance environment OR a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science, Food Safety, Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, or related field.
• Experience with aseptic processing, or similar high sanitary requirement food category.

• Experience with food safety within the aerospace industry.
• Knowledge of food safety QMS systems and documentation.
• Ability to create and update request for proposals (RFPs), purchase orders (POs) and facilities work orders in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Ability to make independent judgments with limited information.
• Strong communication skills for relaying data (verbally and in‑writing) between employees, vendors, and customers.
• Logical and strategic approach to solving problems.
• Ability to read and understand basic floor plans.
• Comfortable working in a high‑stress environment balancing several projects at any given time, with flexibility to adjust for abrupt changes in strategic direction.

• Ability to travel up to 20% of the time.
• Willingness to work overtime or weekends to support critical mission milestones.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted.
• Specific certifications as appropriate (PCQI, HACCP Course Certification, SQF Practitioner).

$84,280 - $108,780 USD

Base salary varies based on experience and market demand. Full‑time employees also receive company equity and a comprehensive benefits package, including 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents; flexible paid time off for exempt staff; up to 10 days of vacation for non‑exempt staff; paid parental leave; short‑ and long‑term disability insurance; life insurance; access to a 401(k) retirement plan;
One Medical membership;
Class Pass credits; personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health; and other discounts. Food perks include free snacks, coffee, drinks, dinner meals, and subsidized lunch.