Propulsion Engineer

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 Lead Propulsion Engineer, reporting to the Senior Manager, Propulsion Flight Hardware, to design and qualify the pressure vessels human-rated space stations.

Haven Station carries composite over-wrapped pressure vessels and metallic tanks for propulsion and for crew life support gases. Vast is building out a team to own the in-house design, development, and flight qualification of these pressure vessels.

You set the technical approach, review the designs and analyses before they release, and take an active technical role yourself. You will run a rapid, iterative development cycle and own the full product lifecycle, from clean-sheet concept all the way to module end-of-life. You lead the team as their manager and technical mentor while staying close to the hardware and driving resolution of the hard problems.

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

Responsibilities: 

• Lead the pressure vessel team: set technical direction, review the work, and develop the responsible engineers and analysts under you
• Serve as technical authority over the Haven Station COPV and metallic tank designs, reviewing and approving releases from the responsible engineers
• Set the analysis and test approach for the team: composite layup analysis, stress and fracture, proof, burst, cycle, and stress rupture testing
• Lead failure investigations on prototype and qualification hardware and carry the findings into the next design iteration