Manager, Thermal Control Systems

<div class="content-intro"><p>At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. Vast is developing next-generation space stations to ensure a continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and unlocking a new space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Using an incremental, hardware-rich and low-cost approach, Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station. Haven Demo’s 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Next, Haven-1 is expected to become the world’s first commercial space station when it launches, followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030. 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.</p></div><p>Vast is seeking a <strong>Manager, Thermal Control Systems</strong>&nbsp;reporting to the <strong>Director, Thermal Environmental and Life Support Systems </strong>to lead the development of the thermal and fluid systems that enable artificial gravity and long-term human habitation in space. In this role, you will guide a small team of mechanical engineers while also contributing directly to system architecture, design, and test. You will shape mission-critical hardware that must operate flawlessly in orbit and play a key role in advancing human-rated spaceflight.&nbsp;<br><br>This <strong>full-time, exempt</strong> role is based in <strong>Long Beach, CA</strong>.</p> <p><strong>Responsibilities</strong><strong><br></strong><strong><br></strong><strong>Leadership &amp; Team Development</strong></p> <ul> <li>Lead and mentor a team of mechanical engineers responsible for thermal and fluid system hardware.</li> <li>Set technical direction, prioritize development efforts, and foster a culture of ownership and continuous improvement.</li> <li>Provide guidance on design decisions, analyses, and test plans, ensuring high-quality engineering outputs.</li> <li>Manage workloads, support professional development, and ensure on-time execution of deliverables.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Technical Ownership</strong></p> <ul> <li>Own the architecture and performance of thermal control system hardware, including tubing, trays, and fluid loops.</li> <li>Lead hardware through its full lifecycle—from design trades through manufacturing, qualification, launch prep, and on-orbit operation.</li> <li>Drive rapid prototyping and iterative testing to matur