Solar Array Engineer Verified today

About Vast

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. The company also recently announced Vast Satellite, a high-power satellite product line leveraging space station components.

The Role

You will be a Solar Array Engineer reporting to the Principal Power Systems Engineer, supporting development of systems for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. This is a full-time, exempt position based in Long Beach, California.

Responsibilities

• Define requirements and trade architectures of solar arrays.
• Select and qualify materials and vendors for solar arrays.
• Develop and qualify processes for welding, adhesion, and lamination of solar cells.
• Test and qualify designs to AIAA S112 standards.
• Interface with systems engineering, power electronics, structures, thermal, and mission assurance teams for end-to-end integration.
• Troubleshoot issues across the product lifecycle from design through integration and testing.
• Participate in design reviews, drawing checks, and technical documentation for internal and NASA deliverables.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, materials engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• Experience working with design, manufacture and verification of photovoltaics or similar composite structures.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience in the space industry developing, building, and testing solar arrays.
• Experience with space solar design and guidelines such as AIAA S111, S112.
• Proactive problem-solving skills such as failure analysis and root cause investigation.
• Prior experience in a fast-paced manufacturing setting.
• Design work in recent versions of NX and Teamcenter.
• Analysis work in recent versions of Ansys, FeMap/Nastran, Abaqus, or Thermal Desktop.
• Experience with GD&T implementation and analysis (ASME Y14.5).
• Familiarity with spacecraft specifications such as SMC-S-016, NASA-STD-5001, and NASA-STD-5019.

Compensation

• Solar Array Engineer II: $112,000 - $159,000
• Senior Solar Array Engineer: $137,000 - $195,000
• Staff Solar Array Engineer: $162,000 - $230,000

Base salary varies depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Full-time employees receive company equity and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage; paid time off with 20+ days vacation for exempt staff; paid parental leave; disability and life insurance; 401(k) retirement plan; ClassPass credits; mental healthcare through Spring Health; free snacks, coffee, cold drinks, and dinner; subsidized lunch.

Additional Requirements

• Willingness to work overtime or weekends to support critical mission milestones.
• Must be a U.S. person as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 (U.S. citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, asylee, or refugee with status granted) due to access to export-controlled information and items.