Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Propulsion

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. We are building artificial gravity space stations, allowing long-term stays in space without the adverse effects of zero-gravity. Our initial crewed space habitat will be Haven-1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station when it launches into low earth orbit in May 2026. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. We are building artificial gravity space stations, allowing long-term stays in space without the adverse effects of zero gravity. Our initial crewed space habitat, Haven-1, is scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station when it launches into low Earth orbit in May 2026.

Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us!

Vast is looking for a Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Haven Propulsion, reporting to the Director of Haven Propulsion, to support the development and production of propulsion systems critical for human-rated artificial-gravity space stations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize manufacturing processes for propulsion systems, ensuring efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
• Lead or oversee Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel (COPV) manufacturing efforts, including winding, curing, testing, and integration with propulsion systems.
• Work closely with suppliers to ensure high-quality component delivery, especially for COPV structures, filament winding processes, and composite materials.
• Design, fabricate, and activate ground support equipment and test articles, particularly pressurized ground systems.
• Operate, troubleshoot, repair, maintain, and modify pressurized systems, from vacuum to 20,000 psig.
• Develop and maintain detailed manufacturing plans, assembly procedures, and work instructions to ensure consistent and accurate production of propulsion components.
• Identify and resolve manufacturing challenges related to propulsion components through root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Collaborate with design teams to ensure manufacturability and optimize assembly/test processes for propulsion fluid systems, including COPVs, valves, regulators, and tubing.
• Perform hands-on assembly, integration, and testing of propulsion components, ensuring compliance with engineering specifications and industry standards.
• Establish and maintain rigorous quality control processes for manufacturing, focusing on pressure vessel integrity, composite curing processes, and defect analysis.
• Stay up-to-date with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in propulsion system manufacturing, including composite overwrapping and pressure vessel advancements.

 

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, preferably in aerospace, spaceflight, or high-pressure composite manufacturing.
• Knowledgeable in COPV fabrication and environmental testing.
• Experience in Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing Technologies for metallic components. 
• Proficiency in CAD software (such as Siemens NX) for reviewing designs and creating manufacturing documentation.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience with propellant management devices, including both surface tension and elastomeric or metallic diaphragms is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of fluid systems, tube manufacturing processes, and high-pressure component assembly.
• Hands-on experience with fluid systems, testing equipment, and propulsion system integration.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, including root cause analysis and failure analysis.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, balancing multiple projects and adapting to evolving priorities.

Salary Range: California$120,000—$164,000 USDCOMPENSATION 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 compreh