Senior Avionics Systems Engineer
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 an experienced Senior Avionics Systems Engineer, reporting to the SVP, Engineering. As a Senior Avionics Systems Engineer, you will be responsible for developing, testing, and maintaining avionics systems for our state-of-the-art commercial space station.
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.
Responsibilities:
- Work with a cross functional team of engineers between vehicle analysis, design, and production extending through vehicle system verification and space operations.
- Analyze, create and maintain systems designs, define and improve processes, and develop vehicle validation techniques.
- Perform real-time troubleshooting on the vehicle as it goes from the integration phase through mission operations.
- Develop and execute avionics system level testing on integrated flight hardware to assess vehicle flight readiness.
- Support build and process improvement through troubleshooting build problems and work to simplify and streamline recurring work to enable higher reliability of the avionics systems.
- Support mission operations by providing real-time input during flight, completing data reviews and monitoring system performance, and working with partners to simplify operation of systems.
- Work cross-functionally to define the scope of development projects and initial product requirements as new designs move from concept, prototype to production.
- Define acceptance testing and qualification requirements of new and existing hardware, perform development and qualification testing to prove out design, and formally document test results.
- Travel to launch sites for testing and/or operations.
- Support and develop other team members.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or other engineering discipline.
- 5+ years of professional or project experience with avionics design, analysis, and/or unit level testing.
- Experience with Avionics test equipment such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, current probes.
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Ability to effectively communicate technical topics to a wide variety of audiences.
- Ability to creatively solve problems and weigh against multi-disciplinary requirements together while assessing risk and making design and development decisions.
- Understanding of electrical schematics and electronics manufacturing to analyze and improve test coverage.
- Hands-on experience with sizing, installing and troubleshooting various electronic components.
- Experience with wire harness design and build, including associated sub-components.
- Experience with NX or similar CAD software.
- Experience with PCBA design and Altium or similar software.
- Experience with RF system design or testing.
- Competence with electrical test equipment (multimeters, oscilloscopes, network analyzers, power supplies, etc.)
- Creative problem solver that can bring multiple disciplines together with the ability to assess risk and make design and development decisions without all available data.
- Self-motivated with strong learning, multi-tasking, organizational, communication and documentation skills.
- Strong sense of accountability and integrity with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work autonomously thrive in a fast paced environment.
Additional Requirements:
- Ability to travel up to 10% travel to support launch campaigns.
Pay Range:
- Senior Avionics Systems Engineer Level III: $135,000-$170,000.
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: 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, flexible paid time off for exempt staff and up to 15 days of vacation for non-exempt staff, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, free catered meals and snacks and beverages, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, One Medical membership, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks.
U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS
The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.
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.