Senior Software Engineer, Backend

Vast is looking for a Senior Software Engineer, Backend reporting to the Senior Manager, Software Engineering to support 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:

Design, build, and maintain scalable backend services, tools, and pipelines supporting mission-critical security systems.

Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to design and implement secure, high-performance services and APIs.

Develop and maintain backend infrastructure for authentication, authorization, and secure data handling.

Establish and promote best practices for backend architecture, security, and code quality at scale.

Build systems that are reliable, observable, and capable of supporting a rapidly growing codebase and engineering team.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.

6+ years of backend software engineering experience, with exposure to security-focused systems (e.g., IAM, API security, certificate management).

Strong experience building and operating backend services in cloud environments.

Proficiency in at least one modern programming language (Python, Go, Rust, C++, etc.).

Solid understanding of distributed systems, API design, and backend architecture.

Experience working in Linux environments, including command line and scripting.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

Experience solving ambiguous, complex backend problems in fast-paced environments.

Familiarity with DevOps practices and tools (Docker, Kubernetes).

Experience designing and scaling APIs and microservices.

Background in one or more security domains (e.g., cryptography, network security, infrastructure security).

Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across teams.

Ownership mindset with a bias toward action and continuous improvement.

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.

Specific certifications, as appropriate.

Pay Range:

Senior Software Engineer, Backend: $159,000 - $226,000

Staff Software Engineer, Backend: $188,600 - $267,000

Pay Range: California

$159,000—$267,000 USD