Mechanical Engineer, Structures

@ Vast

About the Mechanical Engineer, Structures Role

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. We are building artificial gravity space stations and our initial crewed space habitat, Haven-1, will be the world’s first commercial space station launching in May 2026.

Role Overview

Reporting to the Manager, Structures Design, the Mechanical Engineer will own the design of primary and secondary structures for a large-scale space station. You will work on static and dynamic loads, vibrations, thermal and other environmental aspects to drive design decisions.

Responsibilities

• Own design of primary and secondary structures on a large scale space station.
• Analyze static/dynamic loads, vibrations, and environmental effects.
• Perform mechanical design, create analysis, manufacturing drawings, and test plans.
• Lead trades and manage subsystem interfaces.
• Collaborate with fabricators and technicians to resolve issues.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Civil Engineering, Physics, or Math.
• 2+ years experience with CAD and FEA software packages.
• 2+ years experience in designing mechanical components or systems.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience in designing structures for high-performance vehicles or spacecraft.
• Proactive problem-solving with failure analysis and root cause investigation.
• Experience in fast-paced manufacturing, NX, Teamcenter, Ansys, Femap/Nastran, Abaqus.
• Familiarity with GD&T (ASME Y14.5) and spacecraft specifications (SMC-S-016, NASA-STD-5001).

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation varies by experience and market, with a base salary range of $80,000 to $176,400 USD. Full-time employees receive company equity, comprehensive medical, dental, vision coverage, flexible PTO, subsidized meals, 401(k), and additional perks.

U.S. Export Control Compliance

The candidate must be a U.S. person or eligible for deemed export licensing, as defined by U.S. export control regulations.

Equal Opportunity

Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Hiring decisions are based on merit, competence, and qualifications.

Key skills/competency

Mechanical Design, CAD, FEA, Structural Analysis, Loads, Vibrations, Thermal, Manufacturing, NX, Ansys