Materials and Processes Engineer, Soft Goods

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 August 2025. 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 Materials and Processes Engineer, Soft Goods, reporting to the Director of Manufacturing, 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. 

As a Materials and Processes Engineer at Vast, you will have the opportunity to utilize your knowledge, experience, and creativity to lead material assessment, selection, and certification at the cutting edge of space technology. Our team is developing novel life support, thermal control, and propulsion systems, as well as designing and building the interiors for a crew rated space station.  This is a challenging role as it involves knowledge and decisions that are absolutely critical to the safety of future astronauts and passengers.

Responsibilities: 

• Own non-metallic materials and process recommendations and requirements for an artificial-gravity space station 
• Select and communicate company posture on material selection, off-gassing risk, flammability, and toxicity assessment for a crewed space station 
• Act as the technical expert for polymers, soft goods, seals, paints, and adhesives/epoxies
• Work with interdisciplinary stakeholders such as life support, thermal control, and propulsion engineers to ensure all materials and processes can support a safe crewed mission
• Lead design reviews internally and externally with suppliers and customers
• Make sure that all designs and systems are manufacturable and reliable from a materials perspective

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in materials science or related discipline
• 3+ years of experience working with materials and processes for space applications

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Master of Science degree in materials science or related discipline
• Experience with soft goods, especially those used in aerospace or other crewed vehicles
• Knowledge of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and their impact on vehicles and crew
• Experience with off gassing of polymers and other non-metallic materials
• Experience with outgassing of materials in a vacuum environment
• Knowledge of flammability risk of a variety of materials used in aerospace applications
• Knowledge of crewed space vehicles
• Knowledge of gaseous oxygen systems and related materials, process, and cleanliness guidelines and interactions with flammability assessments of these systems
• Experience in toxicity assessment for short and medium term human health risk
• Knowledge of corrosion mechanisms
• Experience with aerospace specific electronics and coatings risks such as whiskering
• Experience with paints, epoxies, and coatings for aerospace applications
• Knowledge of metallic and fluid system manufacturing techniques, processes, equipment, and other processes such as machining, welding, brazing, tube bending, etc.
• Able to work well in an integrated collaborative team environment, including frequent interactions with technicians, other engineers, and managers
• Highly self-motivated with strong organizational and written/oral communication skills – able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment with the ongoing drive for continuous improvement in all aspects of work
• Hands-on laboratory experience in materials science and additive manufacturing
• Preferred experience: atomization, metal additive manufacturing, alloy development for additive manufacturing, additive manufacturing equipment development, injection molding, metallography, optical microscopy, hardness testing, DSC, XRD, IGF, machine shop technology
• Strong organizational skills, as well as verbal and written communication
• Strong project management, organizational, and communication skills
• Ability to plan and execute R&D projects
• Apply subject matter expertise to cutting edge technical needs, iterate efficiently, and clearly articulate issues
• Ability to independently