Vast · 3 days ago
Senior Life Support Systems Engineer
Vast is on a mission to contribute to a future where billions of people thrive in space by building artificial gravity space stations. The Senior Life Support Systems Engineer will be responsible for designing and developing environmental and thermal control systems for the artificial-gravity space station, ensuring integration with various systems and leading design reviews.
Defense & Space
Responsibilities
Own the design and development of the environmental and thermal control systems for our artificial-gravity space station, from initial design trades to fully functional and validated system
Iterate on manufacturing processes and development testing in a fast-paced environment
Own the project delivery timeline from early design through production, launch, and orbit insertion
Perform systems engineering tasks and fluid analyses
Lead design reviews internally and externally with suppliers and customers
Work with interdisciplinary stakeholders to ensure the component will integrate with the necessary avionics, software, and mission operations systems
Make sure that all designs are manufacturable and reliable
Bring technical excellence to everything you do
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in an engineering or science discipline
5+ years of experience working with fluid or environmental control systems or components
3+ years of hands-on hardware experience performing fabrication, assembly and/or testing
Preferred
Master's degree in an engineering discipline
Proactive problem-solving skills such as failure analysis, root cause investigation, and design of experiment creation
Ability to perform trade studies using first principles and engineering fundamentals to make clear recommendations even with partial information
Experience with rotating machinery
Experience with soft goods
Experienced in NX
Solid understanding and application of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and tolerance stack-up analysis
Experience with structural analysis methods (hand calcs, FEMAP, ANSYS) in order to optimize hardware to strength requirements as well as to evaluate for life and fracture
Knowledge of metallic and fluid system manufacturing techniques, processes, equipment, and other processes such as machining, welding, brazing, tube bending, etcetera
Able to work well in an integrated collaborative team environment, including frequent interactions with technicians, other engineers, and managers
Highly self-motivated with strong organizational and written/oral communication skills – able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment with the ongoing drive for continuous improvement in all aspects of work
Benefits
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
Other discounts and perks
Exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge
Lunch subsidized as part of Vast's ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees
Company
Vast
Vast is developing next-generation space stations to ensure 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.
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageRecent News
2025-10-17
2025-09-24
The Orlando Sentinel
2025-09-14
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