People Operations Associate

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 People Operations Associate, reporting to the Manager of People Operations, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.

The People Operations Associate is a key member of the People team, responsible for ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and efficiency of our HR systems and people processes. This role focuses on maintaining and improving our HRIS, developing data integrity processes, and supporting employee lifecycle operations from onboarding through offboarding.

You’ll work cross-functionally with People, IT, Legal and Payroll to enhance data consistency, streamline workflows, and ensure that our systems reflect accurate, actionable people data. This role is ideal for someone who is detail-oriented, process-driven, and thrives in collaborative, fast-paced environments.

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

Responsibilities:

• HRIS and Data Integrity

• Own and maintain the accuracy, completeness, and security of employee data in the HRIS.

• Develop, document, and implement processes that promote strong data integrity across all HR systems.

• Conduct regular audits to ensure data consistency, compliance, and reliability.

• Manage configuration updates, testing, and system enhancements to improve efficiency and usability.

• Create and analyze reports and dashboards to support people analytics and business decisions.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure smooth data flow between HRIS, payroll, and other integrated systems.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for HRIS data governance, ensuring best practices are followed across the organization.

• Employee Lifecycle & Operational Support

• Support all stages of the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, job changes, and offboarding.

• Own offboarding processes to ensure compliance, efficiency, and a positive employee experience.

• Maintain employee documentation, system updates, and records related to employment changes.

• Partner with the People team to coordinate and improve lifecycle processes and communications.

• Manage and regularly update internal People Operations resources on Confluence, ensuring documentation remains accurate and up to date.

• Collaboration & Project Management

• Partner with stakeholders across People, Finance, and IT to support projects that enhance system functionality and operational efficiency.

• Lead or contribute to process improvement initiatives focused on automation, data accuracy, and scalability.

• Coordinate project tasks, timelines, and communications for People Operations initiatives.

• Build strong cross-functional relationships to anticipate needs, resolve issues, and deliver a seamless employee experience.

Minimum Requirements:

• High School Diploma or equivalent certificate.

• 3–5 years of experience in People Operations, HR Systems Management, or HR Administration.

• Demonstrated expertise managing HRIS systems (Rippling experience highly preferred)

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills with attention to detail and accuracy.

• High level of discretion and ability to handle confidential information with integrity.

• Strong communication and collaboration skills with a customer-service mindset.

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Preferred Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Human Resources, or related field.

• Experience supporting multi-location organizations.

• Familiarity with California employment practices and compliance requirements.

• Track record of implementing or optimizing HRIS systems and onboarding processes at scale.

• Project management experience.

Salary Pay Ranges

• People Operations Associate II: $73,000 - $114,000

• People Operations Associate III: $88,000 - $137,000

Salary Range: California
$73,000—$137,000 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.