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The role involves ensuring build reliability for space systems, leading cross-functional collaborations, data analysis, and continuous improvement in processes and quality standards.
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.
Vast is looking for a Senior/Staff Build Reliability Engineer, reporting to the Director of Build & Supplier Reliability, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.
In this role, you will work at the intersection of design, manufacturing, integration, and test to ensure our space systems meet the highest standards of safety, quality, and performance.
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.
Responsibilities:
- Own build reliability for major assemblies or multiple work centers
- Work with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Mission Assurance to define and maintain clear controls, inspections, and acceptance criteria for each product, ensuring lessons learned are captured and applied across programs
- Ensure successful introduction of flight hardware by identifying and mitigating design and process gaps, and retiring build risks through production ramp-up
- Drive maturation of internal production processes, ensuring documentation, equipment, tooling, process controls, data collection, and training support consistent and streamlined execution
- Collect and analyze build data to identify risks and recurring issues. Lead build quality reviews, generate data-driven recommendations, and effectively influence partner teams to prioritize efforts that prevent escapes and improve reliability
- Ensure off-nominal work is performed reliably and well-documented. Provide technical direction and lead risk mitigation and response plans for severe issues, establishing recovery plans and aligning operations, quality, and engineering on execution
- Lead containment and structured root-cause investigation of high-impact issues. Ensure implementation and verification of corrective actions that address root cause and systemic contributors across Vast
- Lead cost-of-quality and efficiency improvements through simplification of requirements, clearer design standards, strengthened process controls, and streamlined inspections
- Define, develop, and deploy tools and standards to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of reliability processes
- Mentor others to elevate reliability capabilities across the company
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
- 6-10 years of experience in quality, manufacturing, reliability, or design in aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability hardware environments
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills, with the ability to work collaboratively in fast-paced environments
Preferred Skills & Experience
- Proven track record of driving systemic improvements and leading interdisciplinary projects
- Expertise in advanced reliability and quality methodologies (RCA, FMEA, SPC, control plans); Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent experience preferred
- Familiarity with reliability engineering, quality systems, and standards (ISO 9001, AS9100, etc.)
- Strong technical depth in design, manufacturing, integration, and/or test
Additional Requirements
- Ability to travel up to 10%
- Ability to support mission-critical events outside normal working hours
Pay Range:
- Senior Build Reliability Engineer: $137,800 - $195,000
- Staff Build Reliability Engineer: $162,360- $230,472
Pay Range: California
$137,800—$230,472 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, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, 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 & onsite barista, 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
As9100
Iso 9001
Quality Systems
Reliability Engineering Methodologies
Six Sigma
Vast Long Beach, California, USA Office
2851 Orange Ave, Long Beach, CA, United States, 90755
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