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Senior Mechanical Engineer, Lunar Verified today

Vast · Long Beach, CA · Space Systems · first seen 2026-09-03
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About the Role

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure. As Senior Mechanical Engineer, Lunar, you will report to the Senior Vice President of Lunar Programs and support development of systems for Vast's lunar ecosystem. You'll apply technology and knowledge built across Haven Demo, Haven-1, Haven Station, and Vast Satellite to lunar exploration.

As one of the earliest mechanical engineers on the lunar team, you will have outsized impact in developing Vast's lunar ecosystem. You'll cover a wide range of components and systems, taking engineered systems from concept through test. Your work requires understanding of mechanical design, power systems, fluid systems, mechanisms, and materials engineering.

Responsibilities

  • Own end-to-end lunar engineering projects such as solar and battery power stations, gas and fluids consumables pallets, airlocks, nodes, and habitation modules
  • Lead trade studies on lunar designs, interfacing with power, thermal, avionics, life support, and industrial design teams
  • Work with lunar subject matter experts and systems architects to bring lunar concepts to reality that mesh with Vast's larger lunar ecosystem and NASA's Moon Base architecture
  • Develop and maintain CAD models (NX or equivalent), flowing design intent through to fabrication and release
  • Drive fabrication, assembly, and integration of hardware, partnering with manufacturing and integration teams on design-for-manufacturing
  • Lead hardware bring-up, checkout, and anomaly resolution
  • Represent your systems at design reviews and program milestones

Minimum Qualifications

  • B.S. in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, materials engineering, mathematics, physics, or related technical discipline
  • 6+ years of experience in mechanical design for space applications, with direct ownership of hardware from design through test
  • Hands-on CAD proficiency (NX or equivalent) with experience taking mechanical, electromechanical, and fluids designs from concept through flight release
  • Demonstrated experience owning a hardware subsystem end-to-end (design, build, integration, and test), not solely in analysis or support capacity
  • Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, fluid schematics, and electrical circuit diagrams
  • Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills with ability to communicate technical information to non-technical partners

Preferred Skills and Experience

  • Experience working on lunar engineering programs
  • Experience designing or delivering deployable spacecraft structures (solar arrays, booms, masts, or similar mechanisms)
  • Experience with battery system design, sizing, or qualification for space applications
  • Familiarity with lunar surface or deep-space thermal, radiation, and solar environment, or equivalent extreme-environment design experience
  • Experience leading hardware through formal verification campaigns (functional, environmental, vibration, thermal-vacuum)
  • Prior experience in fast-paced commercial space or startup hardware environment, comfortable with high ownership and limited process overhead

Additional Requirements

  • Ability to travel up to 5% of the time to support vendors, partnership or customer meetings
  • Willingness to work evenings and weekends to support critical mission milestones

Compensation

Base salary: $137,000 to $230,000 USD, depending on experience and demonstrated capability. Full-time employees receive company equity and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage; paid time off (20+ days vacation for exempt staff with annual cash-out); paid parental leave; short and long-term disability insurance; life insurance; 401(k) retirement plan; ClassPass credits; Spring Health mental healthcare; free snacks, coffee, and meals; and lunch subsidies.

Employment Details

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

U.S. Export Control Compliance

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