Senior Finite Element Vehicle Architect

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental hardware-rich and low-cost approach. Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station to ensure a 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. Haven Demos 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Next Haven-1 is expected to become the worlds first commercial space station when it launches in 2027 followed by additional Haven modules. Additionally the company recently announced Vast Satellite a high-power satellite product line leveraging its space station components and the heritage of Haven Demo.

Headquartered in Long Beach California and with more than 1000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital Vast has built the facilities required to manufacture and operate Americas next space station. The company plans to develop future habitats and systems for the Moon and Mars dedicated space stations for government partners and other crewed systems that will unlock the expanding long-term space economy.

Vast is looking for a Finite Element Vehicle Architect reporting to the Senior Manager Dynamics and Loads to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of human-rated space stations.

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

The Structural Dynamics team is responsible for low and high-frequency load & environment predictions for all Vast space stations during ground transportation ascent and on-orbit operations. This role will be responsible for building maintaining and managing the vehicle systems-level Finite Element Model of our Haven space station program and oversee future FEA engineering needs across Vasts future product portfolio.

Responsibilities:

• Create and maintain FEA models of vehicle level systems and space station program
• Perform structural dynamics analysis that informs structural sizing for strength mass and cost optimization
• Collaborate closely with design engineers in dynamics and static analysis methods
• Communicate with design organization to ensure vehicle prediction models match design intent
• Expand company capability in analysis through validating and establishing methods and practices
• Work with hardware owners and test engineering to plan and execute vibration tests as well as perform supporting analyses

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering (or equivalent)
• Proficiency in commercial FEA software (ie Femap/Nastran Abaqus Ansys )
• Strong grasp of structural mechanic fundamentals used for dynamic response prediction (single degree of freedom systems damping beam bending)

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Spacecraft and/or Payload background with experience through the entire system lifecycle from concept design production integration test launch to operation support
• Demonstrated expertise with Nastran
• Automation and Workflow Generation for FEA softwares
• Working understanding of a design load cycle and how it relates to analysis and test
• Knowledge of spacecraft analysis and launch load environments and industry standard documents (NASA-STD-5001 SMC-S-016 etc.)
• Establishment of of company internal specifications or best practices

Pay Range: California

$137760 - $230472 USD

We calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidates experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge education skills experience business needs and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks including: medical dental and vision coverage for employees and dependents generous paid time off; up to 20 days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10 days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually paid parental leave short and long-term disability insurance life insurance access to a 401(k) retirement plan ClassPass credits personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks with snacks drip coffee & onsite barista cold drinks and dinner meals remaining free of charge and lunch subsidized as part of Vasts ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls and therefore must either be a U.S. person as defined by 22 C.F.R. 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens U.S. nationals lawful permanent residents (green card holders) and asylees and refugees with such status granted not pending.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast is governed on the basis of merit competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race color religion gender national origin/ethnicity veteran status disability status age sexual orientation gender identity marital status mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Required Experience:

Senior IC