Electric Propulsion Specialist Verified today

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure. We're building Haven Station to enable continuous human presence in space, advanced microgravity research, and a new space economy. Haven Demo's 2025 success made us the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate our own spacecraft. Haven-1 is expected to become the world's first commercial space station when it launches in 2027.

We're hiring an Electric Propulsion Specialist to support the design and build of human-rated space stations. This is a full-time position based in Long Beach, California, reporting to the Director of Production.

What you'll do

You'll work hands-on in our lab where propulsion hardware gets built and tested. Working side by side with propulsion engineers, you'll assemble, wire, and test electric propulsion hardware, from thrusters to the high-voltage power and harnessing that drives them.

• Fabricate, assemble, integrate, and test electric propulsion hardware, including thrusters, propellant feed components, power electronics, and test support equipment
• Build, inspect, and repair electrical harnesses and cable assemblies, including soldering, crimping, potting, splicing, lacing, and connector termination
• Safely work on high-voltage systems and equipment, following lockout/tagout, grounding, and other electrical safety practices
• Run, maintain, and troubleshoot vacuum chambers and pumping systems
• Set up and run thruster and component tests, including mounting hardware, routing instrumentation, checking out data acquisition systems, and monitoring tests
• Machine fixtures, brackets, adapters, and test hardware on manual and/or CNC mills and lathes from drawings or engineering sketches
• Diagnose electrical and mechanical problems using multimeters, hipot and insulation-resistance testers, oscilloscopes, and leak detectors
• Follow and help write work instructions, test procedures, and build travelers, and record as-built configurations and any non-conformances accurately
• Keep the lab, tooling, and test areas clean, organized, and safe, including inventory of consumables and spares
• Work with engineering, quality, and other technicians to feed manufacturing and test lessons back into design

Minimum qualifications

• 5 or more years of hands-on experience as an electrical, electromechanical, or test technician in aerospace, defense, research, or a similar high-reliability industry (or equivalent military experience)
• Demonstrated experience building wire harnesses and cable assemblies, including soldering, crimping, and connector termination
• Experience working safely on high-voltage systems or equipment
• Machining experience on manual and/or CNC mills and lathes

Preferred skills and experience

• Operating and maintaining high-vacuum systems, including roughing pumps, turbomolecular pumps, diffusion pumps, and/or cryopumps
• Helium leak detection, vacuum gauges, and vacuum fittings (KF, CF, ISO)
• Electric propulsion systems (Hall-effect, gridded ion, or similar) or plasma/high-voltage lab equipment
• Welding experience (TIG preferred), especially on stainless steel or thin-walled tubing
• Current IPC/WHMA-A-620, J-STD-001 (including Space Addendum), and/or NASA-STD-8739 certification
• Precision cleaning, cleanroom work, or contamination control for flight hardware
• Propellant feed systems, including tube bending, fittings, and pressure/leak testing
• Reading and interpreting electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and mechanical drawings, including GD&T
• Data acquisition systems and test instrumentation
• Documenting work in an MES or similar system for manufacturing and quality records
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality and safety
• Working effectively in a team and making sound independent judgments with limited information
• Comfort in a fast-paced environment, balancing several tasks at once and adapting to changing priorities

Additional requirements

• Willingness to work overtime, extended shifts, or weekends to support critical test campaigns and mission milestones
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs unassisted
• Ability to wear PPE as required, and to work in cleanrooms and confined spaces around test chambers
• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time to support testing at vendor or external facilities

Compensation

Pay range for California: $42.97 to $61 USD per hour. Compensation is calibrated to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. Base salary varies depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand.

Full-time employees receive company equity and access to medical, dental, and vision coverage; paid time off (10+ days vacation for non-exempt staff, with ability to cash out unused vacation annually); paid parental leave; short and long-term disability insurance; life insurance; 401(k) retirement plan; ClassPass credits; personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health; free snacks, drip coffee, onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals; and 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.