Tooling Engineer Long Beach, California, United States

Overview

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, allowing long‑term stays in space without the adverse effects of zero‑gravity. Our initial crewed space habitat will be Haven‑1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station when it launches into low‑Earth orbit in 2026.

Position

Sr. Tooling Engineer (Full‑time, Exempt)

Location

Long Beach, California

Responsibilities

• Own the design, activation, implementation, and support fabrication of fixtures and tooling required for Haven‑1 assembly, lifting, and handling.
• Work with Integration and Manufacturing to define vehicle integration flow, manufacturing process concepts, and tooling interfaces.
• Collaborate with vehicle engineering and production to define fixture and tooling specifications, qualification plans, and introduce them to production.
• Perform mechanical analysis for spacecraft fixtures.
• Develop operation and maintenance plans for all test fixtures and tooling; assist the facilities manager in all aspects of project implementation as needed.
• Manage schedule on assigned projects, including critical next steps, deadlines, and outcomes.
• Manage vendor relationships, coordinate meetings to identify new technologies, and assess their application to Vast’s cutting‑edge projects.
• Develop, test, and implement tool improvements to yield time savings or tolerance improvements.
• Coordinate tooling modifications related to part, production, or other changes.
• Work closely with engineering stakeholders and technicians to solve production‑related issues.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering or other engineering discipline.
• Experience with GD&T.
• 5+ years of experience in aerospace or automotive tooling.
• 5+ years of experience with NX or other 3D CAD packages.
• Hands‑on experience with handling, lifting, or building large, complex assemblies.
• Knowledge of project planning and execution practices, including logic‑linked schedule management.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience with work orders and assembly instructions.
• Design of pneumatic, electrical, or hydraulic motion systems.
• Critical lifting and break‑over fixtures.
• A passion for hardware development, including working in a fast‑paced environment and hands‑on design and development.

Additional Requirements

• Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range (California): $135,000 – $170,000 USD. Base salary is one component of a comprehensive compensation package that includes:

• Company equity
• 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‑term and long‑term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• One Medical membership, ClassPass credits
• Personalized mental health care through Spring Health
• Various discounts and perks, including free snacks, coffee, cold drinks, and dinner meals; lunch subsidized

Equal Opportunity

Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment is governed by merit, competence, and qualifications and is not influenced by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected status.

U.S. Export Compliance

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls and must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise be eligible for deemed export licensing.