Senior Mechanical Engineer, Thermal Control Systems Verified today

About the Role

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and 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.

You will join as a Senior Mechanical Engineer reporting to the Manager, Thermal Control Hardware, supporting the development of thermal control systems required for artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.

What You'll Own

• Design and develop thermal control systems and components from initial design trades to fully functional and validated systems
• Lead project delivery timelines from early design through production, launch, and orbit insertion
• Iterate on manufacturing processes and development testing in a fast-paced environment
• Perform systems engineering tasks and fluid analyses
• Lead design reviews internally and with suppliers and customers
• Work with interdisciplinary stakeholders to ensure integration with avionics, software, and mission operations systems
• Ensure all designs are manufacturable and reliable

Thermal components may include heat exchangers, cold plates, heaters, heat pipes, and related fluid systems.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related engineering discipline
• 5+ years of hands-on hardware experience performing fabrication, assembly, and/or testing
• Experience working with fluid systems or components

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Demonstrated ability to own hardware or systems within an integrated engineering team outside a classroom setting
• Proactive problem-solving skills including failure analysis, root cause investigation, and design of experiment creation
• Ability to perform trade studies using first principles and engineering fundamentals to make clear recommendations with partial information
• Experience with rotating machinery
• Proficiency in NX
• Solid understanding and application of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and tolerance stack-up analysis
• Experience with structural analysis methods (hand calculations, FEMAP, ANSYS) to optimize hardware and evaluate for life and fracture
• Knowledge of metallic and fluid system manufacturing techniques, processes, and equipment including machining, welding, brazing, and tube bending
• Ability to work well in integrated collaborative team environments with technicians, engineers, and managers
• Self-motivated with strong organizational and communication skills; able to prioritize and execute in high-pressure environments

Employment Details

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

Pay range: $137,760 to $195,552 USD. Compensation based on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand.

Benefits

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

Export Control Requirement

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