V

VAST

Develops artificial gravity space stations

Mechanical Engineer - Avionics

Design EngineeringUpdated on Nov 10
Full-timeLong Beach, CA, USA

About the Job

Requirements

  • A Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical, aerospace, or civil engineering, physics, mathematics, or a related technical field is required.
  • At least 2 years of experience designing and developing mechanical components or systems is required; Mechanical Engineer II calls for 2–4+ years, and Senior Mechanical Engineer calls for 4–6+ years.
  • Proficiency with 3D computer-aided design (CAD) and finite element analysis (FEA) software packages is required.
  • Experience implementing and analyzing geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) per ASME Y14.5 is required.
  • Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones is required.

Responsibilities

  • Own the design of avionics enclosures and mounting solutions for high reliability in harsh environments, including batteries and crew-interfacing components.
  • Partner with the electrical engineering team to design and package rugged printed circuit board assemblies, and influence board layout for thermal, structural, and mounting needs.
  • Perform thermal and structural analyses, and use the results to drive design decisions.
  • Lead trade studies, and own interface definition, specification, and interface control documents for the hardware.
  • Design integration brackets and own the installation approach for avionics components on the space station.
  • Create and release engineering drawings, and manage product configuration throughout the product lifecycle.
  • Develop test plans, lead testing and qualification of flight hardware, and review and interpret results.
  • Own requirements verification through test, analysis, inspection, or demonstration.
  • Lead hardware builds from assembly through installation, working with technicians and fabricators to resolve issues and improve designs.

Desired Qualifications

  • Design of structures and components for a high-performance vehicle or spacecraft.
  • Experience with design work in recent versions of NX and Teamcenter.
  • Experience with thermal and structural analysis using Ansys, Femap/Nastran, Abaqus, or similar tools.
  • Experience implementing and analyzing GD&T per ASME Y14.5.
  • Proactive problem-solving skills, including failure analysis and root cause investigation.
  • Experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
  • Familiarity with spacecraft specifications and environmental test standards such as SMC-S-016, NASA-STD-5001, and MIL-STD-810.

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
Debt Financing
Total funding
$500M
Headquarters
Long Beach, CA
Founded
2021

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