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.
Vast is looking for a Senior Materials and Processes Engineer, Metallurgy, reporting to the Manager, Additive Manufacturing for 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.
Responsibilities:
- Lead materials selection, process development, and M&P qualification for metallic materials used on an artificial-gravity space station.
- Establish qualification criteria and lead test campaigns for metallic materials including; material characterization, mechanical properties, joining practices, heat treatment, non-destructive testing, and other special processes.
- Write and interpret material and special process specifications. Ensure that specification acceptance/inspection procedures, and processing instructions, are complete and properly controlled.
- Perform root cause and corrective action analyses to solve problems encountered with internal or vendor manufacturing processes.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Science degree in materials science, materials engineering, weld engineering, or related technical discipline.
- 3+ years of experience working with aluminum alloys, stainless steels, and/or nickel-based alloys in a materials engineering role.
- Hands-on experience with joining processes (e.g. brazing, orbital tube welding, etc.)
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Materials of Science degree in Materials Engineering or related discipline.
- Demonstrable knowledge in materials and manufacturing review and selection, development, and qualification for aerospace applications.
- Understanding of standard Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) techniques used in aerospace.
- First-hand knowledge of primary production processes (e.g. conventional wrought product forms, extrusions, forgings, etc.)
- In-depth knowledge of secondary production processes (e.g. heat treatment, plating, etc.)
- Experience planning and executing material allowables development.
- Experience with failure analysis and fractography including characterization techniques.
- Able to interface with and convey complex concepts to stakeholders at all levels of our organization.
- Strong academic foundation coupled with hands-on experience.
- Desire to mentor interns, less experienced engineers, and technicians.
Additional Requirements:
- Ability to travel up to 10% of the time.
- Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones.
- Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted.
Salary Range: California
$135,000—$170,000 USD
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 10 days of vacation for non-exempt staff, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, One Medical membership, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks.We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.
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.
Top Skills
Vast Long Beach, California, USA Office
2851 Orange Ave, Long Beach, CA, United States, 90755
Similar Jobs
What you need to know about the Los Angeles Tech Scene
Key Facts About Los Angeles Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 375,800; 5.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Snap, Netflix, SpaceX, Disney, Google
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, adtech, media, software, game development
- Funding Landscape: $11.6 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Strong Ventures, Fifth Wall, Upfront Ventures, Mucker Capital, Kittyhawk Ventures
- Research Centers and Universities: California Institute of Technology, UCLA, University of Southern California, UC Irvine, Pepperdine, California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center for Quantum Science and Engineering
