Avionics Design Reliability Engineer Verified today

Vast is developing Haven-1, the world's first commercial human-rated space station. We're seeking an Avionics Design Reliability Engineer to guide the design, verification, and validation of its avionics, RF, and power systems.

You will ensure these systems are designed to function reliably throughout their operational life. You will integrate reliability principles into the design process, drive Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), guide test plan definition, review verification and validation data, and work with hardware teams to prevent failures before manufacturing. You will analyze field data to improve design robustness and shepherd Haven-1's avionics systems from detailed design through qualification to operational readiness.

Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership: Guide design of avionics, RF, and power systems at scale. Lead design reviews providing clear guidance on mechanical design, manufacturing drawings, test plans, and concept of operations. Provide peer review and approval of hardware designs and test campaigns. Ensure design process and criteria are followed for flight, launch, and ground systems. Set standards for acceptance and qualification testing.
• Design Excellence: Architect avionics, RF, power, and EMI/EMC engineering standards and design guides. Develop design criteria, requirements, and verification approaches. Make engineering best practices accessible for rapid development. Support teams with broad experience in design cycles, integration, and test.
• Process Ownership: Build and refine design review templates, reliability checklists, and internal design guides. Track design maturity and compliance across the station architecture. Build tools and frameworks that enable engineers to explore design trade-offs with clarity.
• Change and Configuration Management: Partner with configuration and change management to ensure every flight hardware update is intentional and reviewed. Drive technical trades backed by physics-based engineering rationale. Coordinate between Change Management, Risk, and Engineering teams. Partner with software teams on system data and design decision organization.
• Risk Management: Work with Risk Management to identify risks and drive design improvements. Quantify risk and failure probability through rigorous engineering analysis. Drive FMEA and Fault Tree Analysis. Ensure traceability and verification of design revisions across flight, launch, and ground systems.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or related Engineering discipline
• 6+ years of related professional work experience in responsible engineering, design ownership, systems integration, test engineering, or reliability-focused development

Preferred Skills and Experience

• 10+ years of related professional work experience in responsible engineering, design ownership, systems integration, test engineering, or reliability-focused development
• Experience in Responsible Engineering, Systems Engineering, Office of the Chief Engineer, or Reliability Engineering roles on complex aerospace systems
• Hands-on experience designing, assembling, integrating, or testing hardware
• Background with spacecraft, aircraft, launch vehicles, or other mission or safety-critical systems
• Familiarity with fracture control, reliability methodologies, or human-rated hardware standards
• Experience creating engineering standards, review templates, or technical guidance frameworks
• Strong scripting and data analysis skills (Python, MATLAB, Excel) and familiarity with visualization tools (e.g., Tableau)
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, materials selection, and hardware qualification pathways
• Strong systems-level intuition and ability to anticipate and articulate risks early

Additional Requirements

• Willingness to work overtime or weekends to support critical mission milestones

Compensation

Salary range: $162,360 to $265,392 USD annually. Compensation calibrated to candidate experience and demonstrated capability.

Full-time employees receive company equity and benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage; paid time off (20+ days vacation for exempt staff); paid parental leave; disability and life insurance; 401(k) retirement plan; ClassPass credits; mental healthcare through Spring Health; free snacks, coffee, and dinner; subsidized lunch.

Export Control Requirement

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls. You must be a "U.S. person" as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62, which includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted (not pending).

Employment Details

Full-time, exempt position located in Long Beach, California.