Lead Integration Build Engineer

Vast is looking for a Lead Integration Build Engineer,  reporting to the Manager, Integration, to support the development of the systems required for the  build and test of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.

As a lead for the Integration Build Engineering team, you will develop creative solutions to complex assembly, integration, and test problems. You will play a critical role in our development and production teams for identifying and defining human-rated vehicle processes, and growing a team that exists at the center of Haven-1 execution. Your input will be vital in transitioning the space station from design to a built and tested station ready to host humans in space.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Responsibilities:

Lead and grow a team of engineers and specialists charged with developing, scaling, and maintaining the facilities, tooling, and processes used to build, test, and integrate flight hardware for Haven-1

Support day-to-day execution of hardware production and vehicle-level integration, ensuring builds are safe, on schedule, cost-effective, and produce hardware that performs on orbit

Operate as an interdisciplinary engineer that can  collect production requirements, then plan and execute the build, integration, and validation of flight hardware against those requirements

Design and implement tooling and fixture solutions that are required for all phases of Haven-1’s integration campaigns

Challenge existing design and process requirements, remove unnecessary steps, and optimize the build for a highly reliable vehicle that can meet schedule demands

Become a subject-matter expert for the build of  vehicle-level systems (e.g., structures, propulsion, thermal, ECLSS, or avionics), maintaining working knowledge of its design, schematics, and requirements

Evaluate nonconformances, identify root causes and robust solutions, and drive corrective actions

Generate and maintain design-for-manufacturing requirements and work instructions/test procedures used to build flight hardware

Set clear goals for the team and hold members accountable for execution and continuous improvement in their area of ownership

Own the relationship with design engineering, supply chain, mission management, and other cross-functional partner teams

Identify opportunities for team growth and develop training to increase overall engineering effectiveness

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, electrical, or similar field

2+ years of related engineering experience

Preferred Skills & Experience:

Experience with the build, assembly, integration, or test of complex assemblies and systems

Hands on hardware manufacturing, integration, or test experience

Experience with working with technicians and running multi person operations

Experience writing procedures, technical presentations, and providing go/no-go judgment and rationale

1+ years of experience leading teams, projects, or people

Familiarity with Epsilon3 and Python environments

Ability to make independent judgments with limited information

Experience planning and executing vehicle level system verifications, leak checks, or environmental tests

Comfortable working in a high-stress environment balancing several projects at any given time, and the flexibility to adjust for abrupt changes in strategic direction

Experience with GD&T and complex tolerance stack-ups

Experience with mechanical design and analysis; familiarity with Siemens NX/Teamcenter or similar PLM tools

Experience writing work instructions, test plans, and procedures, and configuration management

Knowledge of PFMEA and  Root Cause/Corrective Action, and equivalent quality-oriented problem solving approaches

Strong sense of ownership, drive, and effective communication

Comfortable making highly impactful decisions in a fast-paced environment

Additional Requirements:

Ability to travel up to 25% of the time

Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones

Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted

Pay Range: California

$120,000—$194,000 USD