VAST

Develops artificial gravity space stations

Fluids Test Engineer

Spacecraft & Launch Vehicle SystemsUpdated on Nov 10

Full-timeLong Beach, CA, USA

About the Job

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, electrical, or a similar field is required.
At least four years of related engineering experience is required.
Hands-on hardware integration and testing experience is required.
Experience working with technicians and running multi-person operations is required.
Experience writing test plans, procedures, and presentations, and providing go/no-go judgment and rationale is required.
Experience with pressure testing, fluid system design, and proof and leak checks in compliance with ASME B31.3 is preferred.
Experience planning and executing engineering operations in time-sensitive, high-risk environments is preferred.
Knowledge of pressure safety standards, including D.O.O., ASME, API, and NFPA, for quantity distance and keep-out zones is preferred.
Experience with high-pressure gas systems and closed-loop control systems is preferred.
Ability to design and perform environmental testing per SMC-S-016, GEVS NASA-STD-7000a, and MIL-STD-810G is preferred.
Experience designing and implementing instrumentation systems and precision measurement devices is preferred.
Experience with data acquisition hardware and software, including NI PXI, cRIO, cDAQ, Dewesoft, and Beckhoff, is preferred.
Ability to generate test system P&IDs using Visio, Lucidchart, or equivalent is preferred.
Experience writing and executing test plans and procedures in collaboration with design engineers is preferred.
Experience performing structured root cause analysis of test failures is preferred.
Experience in structural design and analysis of test fixtures is preferred.
Proficiency with CAD systems is preferred; NX is preferred.
Experience with PLM systems, including Teamcenter, and version control systems, including SVN and Git, is preferred.
Experience with project scheduling tools, including Smartsheet and Microsoft Project, or equivalent, is preferred.
Experience with Jira and/or Confluence is preferred.
Ability to quickly troubleshoot new and existing systems is preferred.
Ability to shift priorities across multiple projects and deliver high-value results iteratively is preferred.
Ability to collaborate across cross-functional engineering teams is preferred.
Ability to travel for vehicle test support up to 20%, including extended travel of up to one month for final vehicle test, is required.
Ability to work varying hours, shifts, extended hours, and weekends as needed is required.
Ability to stoop, bend, crawl, and maneuver in tight spaces and lift up to 25 pounds unassisted is required.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment is required.

Responsibilities

Own the design, build, and commissioning of fluid system ground support equipment and test stands.
Develop test plans for on-vehicle checkouts, fluids, instrumentation, and high-pressure testing.
Act as test director, provide status updates, and lead handoff meetings.
Conduct preliminary design reviews, critical design reviews, and test readiness reviews before design and test execution.
Produce mechanical, fluid, and instrumentation schematics.
Document non-conformances and collaborate with the quality team on root cause corrective actions.
Adhere to, enforce, and improve test processes and best practices.
Collaborate with distributed engineering organizations to define test plans, requirements, and schedules.
Partner with engineers, subject-matter experts, and technicians to solve fluid system problems.
Mentor engineers and technicians on the team.

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and capital-efficient approach. Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station to support a continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and supporting a growing space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Haven Demo’s 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to design, build, and operate its own spacecraft in orbit. Next, Haven-1 is targeted to become the world’s first commercial space station, with launch anticipated in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules. Additionally, the company recently announced two new offerings leveraging its space station components and the heritage of Haven Demo: Vast Satellite, a high-power satellite product line; and Vast Lunar Systems, power, communications, and habitats for the Moon.

Headquartered in Long Beach, California, and with more than 1,000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital, Vast has built the facilities capable of manufacturing America’s next space station. The company plans to develop future habitats and systems for Mars, dedicated modules for government partners, and other crewed systems designed to unlock the expanding long-term space economy.

Vast is looking for a Integration Test Engineer, reporting to the Sr. Manager, Integration Test, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Responsibilities

Own design, build, and commissioning of fluid system GSE and test stands.
Develop clear and robust test plans for on-vehicle checkouts, fluids, instrumentation, and high-pressure testing.
Act as test director, providing status updates and leading handoff meetings.
Conduct PDRs, CDRs, and TRRs before design and test execution.
Produce professional documentation including mechanical, fluid, and instrumentation schematics.
Document non-conformances and collaborate with quality team on root cause corrective actions.
Adhere to, enforce, and improve test processes and best practices.
Collaborate with distributed engineering organizations to define test plans, requirements, and schedules.
Partner with engineers, SMEs, and technicians to solve complex fluid system problems.
Mentor engineers and technicians on the team.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, electrical, or similar field.
4+ years of related engineering experience.
Hands on hardware integration and testing experience.
Experience with working with technicians and running multi person operations.
Experience writing test plans, procedures, presentations, and providing go/no-go judgment and rationale.

Preferred Skills & Experience

Experience with pressure testing, fluid system design, proof and leak checks in compliance with ASME B31.3.
Experience planning and executing engineering operations in time-sensitive, high-risk environments.
Knowledge of pressure safety standards (D.O.O, ASME, API, NFPA) for quantity distance and keep-out zones.
Experience with high-pressure gas systems and closed-loop control systems.
Ability to design and perform environmental testing per SMC-S-016, GEVS NASA-STD-7000a, MIL STD 810G.
Experience designing and implementing instrumentation systems and precision measurement devices.
Experience with DAQ hardware and software (NI PXI, cRIO, cDAQ, Dewesoft, Beckhoff).
Ability to generate test system P&IDs using Visio, Lucidchart, or equivalent.
Experience writing and executing test plans/procedures in collaboration with design engineers.
Perform structured root cause analysis of test failures.
Experience in structural design and analysis of test fixtures.
Proficiency with CAD systems (NX preferred).
Experience with PLM systems (Teamcenter preferred) and version control (SVN, GIT).
Experience with project scheduling tools (Smartsheet, MS Project, or equivalent).
Experience with JIRA and/or Confluence.
Ability to quickly troubleshoot new and existing systems.
Ability to rapidly shift priorities across multiple projects and deliver high-value results iteratively.
Strong collaboration skills across cross-functional engineering teams.

Additional Requirements:

Ability to travel for vehicle test support (20%) including extended travel (up to 1 month) for final vehicle test.
Ability to work varying hours, shifts, extended hours, and weekends as needed.
Ability to stoop, bend, crawl, and maneuver in tight spaces; physically able to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted.
Ability to perform in a fast-paced, rapidly changing work environment.

Pay Range:

Integration Engineer II: $112,340 - $159,468
Senior Integration Engineer: $$137,760 - $195,552
Staff Integration Engineer: $162,360 - $230,472

Pay Range: California

$112,340—$230,472 USD

We calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Pay Range: California 112340 - 230472 USD

About the Company

VAST

Develops artificial gravity space stations

Vast Space builds artificial gravity space stations to enable long-term human life in space. Its approach uses large rotating habitats that generate centrifugal force to mimic Earth's gravity, helping astronauts stay healthy during extended missions. The company designs, tests, demonstrates, services, and manufactures space infrastructure and customizable habitat modules for government space agencies, private aerospace companies, and research institutions that operate in lunar, Martian, or deep-space missions. Unlike others, Vast Space focuses on end-to-end artificial gravity solutions and ongoing support, not just concepts, and targets contracts that provide sustainable space habitats for science, exploration, and colonization efforts. The overall goal is to expand humanity’s reach across the solar system by creating scalable, gravity-enabled habitats that enable safe, long-term presence in space while protecting Earth's ecosystem.

Company size: 501-1,000
Company stage: Series A
Total funding: $500M
Headquarters: Long Beach, CA
Founded: 2021

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