Senior System Architect, Lunar Verified today

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. Vast is now developing systems for the Moon and Mars, dedicated space stations for government partners, and other crewed systems.

You will report to the Senior Vice President, Lunar Programs, and support the development of systems required for Vast's Lunar ecosystem.

Responsibilities

• Define, develop, and maintain the end-to-end system architecture for Vast's Lunar ecosystem, spanning surface habitats, power and energy, communications/PNT, logistics, and crew systems
• Translate NASA Moon Base architecture, mission needs, and human-rating requirements into Vast system requirements, concepts of operations, and interface control documents
• Perform architecture trade studies across mission design, transportation and lander compatibility, surface element sizing, autonomy, and in-situ resource utilization to inform program decisions
• Adapt and extend proven Haven Demo, Haven-1, Haven Station, and Vast Satellite technologies, subsystems, and operational knowledge to the lunar environment
• Collaborate daily with internal engineering teams (structures, life support/ECLSS, avionics and power, software, thermal, and human factors) to decompose architecture into executable subsystem designs
• Develop and manage system budgets (mass, power, data, thermal, consumables)
• Identify architecture-level risks, drive mitigation strategies, and support program milestone reviews
• Represent Vast's lunar architecture with external partners, suppliers, and customers; support business development and proposal efforts

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field
• 6+ years of experience in design ownership, systems integration, or test engineering, of which at least 1+ years are systems engineering focused
• Experience owning system-level architecture, requirements, and interfaces across the full lifecycle, from concept development through design reviews
• Strong working knowledge of spacecraft subsystems and their interactions (power, thermal, life support, avionics, communications, structures)
• Excellent communication skills, with ability to present complex technical trades clearly to executives, customers, and engineers

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Strong systems-level intuition and experience in technical leadership roles on spacecraft, launch vehicles, or other mission- or safety-critical systems
• Experience working on lunar engineering programs
• Comprehensive understanding of one or more core engineering disciplines (Structures, Thermal, Avionics, Power, Flight Software)
• Demonstrated experience working with NASA or other government customers on technical requirements, deliverables, and reviews
• Hands-on experience with requirements and/or project management tools
• Experience leading design reviews (PDR, CDR) and verification campaigns
• Familiarity with NASA's Moon Base program, Artemis architecture, human-rating standards, and/or commercial partnership models
• Experience with crewed systems, habitats, or life support in extreme environments
• Experience in a fast-paced, hardware-rich startup environment with rapid design-build-test cycles
• Experience standing up new programs or teams from the ground up

Additional Requirements

• Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones
• Ability to travel up to 20% of the time to support customer meetings

Compensation

Base salary: $147,600 to $249,000 USD, commensurate with experience and demonstrated capability. Full-time employees receive company equity and benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage; 20+ days vacation (exempt) or 10+ days (non-exempt) with annual cash-out option; paid parental leave; short and long-term disability; life insurance; 401(k) plan; ClassPass credits; mental healthcare through Spring Health; free snacks, coffee, cold drinks, and dinner; subsidized lunch.

Export Control and Eligibility

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.