Industrial & Manufacturing Systems Engineer Verified today

About Vast

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using a hardware-rich, low-cost approach. Haven Demo's 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Haven-1 is expected to become the world's first commercial space station when it launches in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules. Vast is also developing Vast Satellite, a high-power satellite product line leveraging space station components.

The Role

You will join as Industrial & Manufacturing Systems Engineer reporting to the Director of Operational Excellence, supporting development of systems for design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. This is a full-time, exempt position in Long Beach, California.

Key Responsibilities

• Own Haven-2 factory layout and production system architecture, including maintaining authoritative floor plans and work center configurations, and leading future-state factory design to meet rate production requirements as the program scales
• Lead DFM/DFA reviews and manufacturing readiness activities from development through production, partnering with design engineering to optimize producibility and assembly efficiency, and representing Manufacturing Engineering in design reviews (PDR, CDR), manufacturing readiness reviews (MRR), and production readiness reviews (PRR)
• Define, implement, and own key performance metrics across all Haven-2 work centers including throughput, cycle time, first-pass yield, and capacity utilization; design the data infrastructure and reporting systems required to monitor, analyze, and act on production performance
• Lead structured continuous improvement programs using Lean, Six Sigma, and value stream design methodologies, conducting time and motion studies (MOST, Yamazumi), identifying bottlenecks, and implementing standardized, scalable solutions that measurably improve throughput and reduce cycle time
• Develop and maintain the full suite of manufacturing documentation, including process plans, routings, standard work, and work instructions ensuring consistency, repeatability, and compliance with AS9100 and applicable aerospace workmanship standards
• Specify, qualify, and deploy tooling, fixtures, and production equipment, including coordinating custom tooling design to enable efficient, repeatable assembly of complex space hardware
• Drive process standardization across products, assemblies, and work centers, reducing variability and building the operational foundation necessary for sustainable rate scaling
• Lead process qualification and manufacturing readiness activities, including first article inspections (FAI), process validation, and AS9100 certification efforts, acting as the primary manufacturing engineering project management resource for these initiatives
• Facilitate regular production performance reviews with manufacturing, quality, and supply chain leadership, presenting data-driven analysis of throughput, efficiency, and rate performance, and leading corrective action on identified gaps
• Act as a hands-on systems-level problem solver on the manufacturing floor, bringing structured analytical rigor and practical engineering judgment to complex operational challenges

Required Qualifications

• Proven expertise in Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies, with demonstrated results in throughput improvement, cycle time reduction, and process standardization
• Experience conducting time and motion analysis (MOST, Yamazumi, or equivalent) to establish standard work and quantify improvement opportunities
• Hands-on experience developing and maintaining manufacturing documentation (process plans, routings, work instructions) in compliance with AS9100 or equivalent quality management systems
• Strong data and analytics skills with demonstrated ability to design manufacturing performance metrics, build dashboards, and drive decisions from production data using tools such as Tableau, Power BI, or SQL
• Strong cross-functional communication skills, with experience presenting manufacturing performance, risks, and strategies to engineering and operations leadership
• Proven project management capability across concurrent manufacturing initiatives with multiple stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

• Lean or Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt) with quantified project results
• Direct experience with AS9100 certification, audits, or quality management system implementation in an aerospace or defense manufacturing environment
• Experience leading manufacturing readiness reviews (MRR), production readiness reviews (PRR), or first article inspections (FAI) for flight or high-reliability hardware programs
• Familiarity with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) or ERP/MRP platforms (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Aligni) and experience leveraging them to improve production traceability and efficiency
• Proficiency with CAD or facility planning tools (AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or equivalent) for factory layout and work center design
• Experience scaling production from low-rate initial production (LRIP) to high-rate production for complex aerospace or space hardware
• Familiarity with PFMEA, process validation, and quality planning methodologies applied to aerospace hardware manufacturing
• Advanced skills in manufacturing data visualization and analytics, including experience building integrated reporting systems from multiple production data sources

Compensation

Base salary varies by level and experience:

• Industrial Engineer II: $96,760 - $137,352
• Senior Industrial Engineer: $104,960 - $148,992
• Staff Industrial Engineer: $127,920 - $181,584

Full-time employees receive company equity and a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage; paid time off (20+ days vacation for exempt staff, 10+ days for non-exempt, with cash-out option); 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, coffee, cold drinks, and dinner; and subsidized lunch.

Export Control

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 includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted (not pending).