Hardware Development Engineer

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.

Vast is looking for a Mechanical Engineer, reporting to the Manager, Structures Design, to to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.

This role blends mechanical and systems engineering with human-factors-driven product development to shape the environments where astronauts will live and work aboard our stations.

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

Responsibilities:

• Support end-to-end design, development, and integration of in-flight equipment—from concept and requirements through analysis, selection, qualification, manufacturing readiness, and flight verification.

• Support packaging layouts for cargo equipment - help optimize equipment placement to meet volume, mass, accessibility, and center-of-gravity constraints.

• Contribute to requirements definition, participate in trade studies, and support decision-making with clear engineering rationale.

• Support qualification and acceptance testing for in-flight equipment. Help design test fixtures, and participate in testing activities (off-gassing, flammability, mechanical loads, EMI/EMC, environmental exposure).

• Create detailed CAD models, engineering drawings, analysis reports, test plans, and concepts of operations; support hardware through manufacturing/procurement, test, integration, and verification.

• Participate in human-in-the-loop evaluations, mockups, packing studies and fit checks.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with teams (Flight Surgeons, Food Scientists, Thermal, ECLSS, Avionics).

• Help ensure hardware, packaging, and stowage solutions meet mission requirements, human factors and safety standards.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related engineering discipline.

• 2+ years of mechanical design and analysis experience, including development of mechanical components, systems, or safety-critical equipment.

• 2+ years of experience with CAD and FEA tools.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Experience with spaceflight hardware or safety equipment in regulated or high-reliability domains.

• Hands-on experience supporting environmental testing (structural, random vibration, thermal, EMI/EMC).

• Exposure to aerospace, medical, or high-reliability packaging systems.

• Familiarity with flexible packaging, barrier materials, or food-grade polymers.

• Ability to participate in trade studies using first-principles reasoning.

• Experience collaborating on an engineering or project team.

• Ability to use data and analysis to support decision-making.

• Experience supporting hardware from concept through design, build, integration, and verification.

• Strong communication skills; ability to work effectively across teams (avionics, materials, human factors, structural, safety, procurement).

• Comfort working in ambiguity; ability to move fast, take initiative, and deliver under tight schedule constraints.

• Strong organizational skills with good documentation practices, attention to detail, and the ability to track information accurately across projects.

Pay Ranges:

• Mechanical Engineer I : $84,200 - $108,780

• Mechanical Engineer II : $110,000 - $142,000

Pay Range: California
$84,200—$142,000 USD

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, flexible paid time off for exempt staff and 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, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.