Propulsion Engineer - Pressure Vessels Lead (COPV)

Vast is looking for a Lead Propulsion Engineer, reporting to the Senior Manager, Propulsion Flight Hardware, to design and qualify the pressure vessels human-rated space stations.

Haven Station carries composite over-wrapped pressure vessels and metallic tanks for propulsion and for crew life support gases. Vast is building out a team to own the in-house design, development, and flight qualification of these pressure vessels.

You set the technical approach, review the designs and analyses before they release, and take an active technical role yourself. You will run a rapid, iterative development cycle and own the full product lifecycle, from clean-sheet concept all the way to module end-of-life. You lead the team as their manager and technical mentor while staying close to the hardware and driving resolution of the hard problems.

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

Responsibilities:

Lead the pressure vessel team: set technical direction, review the work, and develop the responsible engineers and analysts under you

Serve as technical authority over the Haven Station COPV and metallic tank designs, reviewing and approving releases from the responsible engineers

Set the analysis and test approach for the team: composite layup analysis, stress and fracture, proof, burst, cycle, and stress rupture testing

Lead failure investigations on prototype and qualification hardware and carry the findings into the next design iteration

Own tank requirements and interfaces with Propulsion, ECLSS, and Structures

Support the responsible engineers with the liner supplier, the winder, and the metallic fabrication shops on specifications, deviations, inspection, and acceptance

Work with the matrixed manufacturing engineers on producibility, inspection methods, and a plan to bring winding in house

Write and defend the qualification and fracture control approach for crewed flight

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, materials science, or equivalent experience

4+ years of experience designing, analyzing, or testing pressure vessels or composite structures for flight or other high consequence use

Experience carrying hardware from design through build and test

Preferred Skills & Experience:

Composite overwrapped pressure vessel design, analysis, or test, for propulsion, life support, or any other application

Design and qualification to AIAA S-081 or S-080

Fracture control for crewed spacecraft per NASA-STD-5019

Filament winding pattern design and composite manufacturing

Titanium tank fabrication: forgings, superplastic forming, welding, heat treatment, and inspection

Propellant management device design

Type IV hydrogen or CNG tank development

Analysis in Ansys, Abaqus, or Femap/Nastran, including laminate analysis. WoundSim or similar winding simulation is a plus

Experience leading or mentoring engineers and reviewing their design releases

Hands-on time in a composites or pressure vessel shop

Additional Requirements:

Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends to support critical mission milestones

Occasional travel to suppliers and to the Mojave Test Site

Pay Range: California

$136,120—$193,224 USD