Director, Satellite Engineering (Long Beach)

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. Vast is developing next-generation space stations 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. Using an incremental, hardware-rich and low-cost approach, Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station. Haven Demo’s 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 world’s first commercial space station when it launches, followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.Vast is seeking an experienced Director, Satellite Engineering to lead development of a new constellation-ready 15kW spacecraft bus — a product line designed to scale to hundreds of spacecraft per year. Our first mission is a 10-satellite demo launch with customers spanning communications constellations, on-orbit compute, and scientific observation. We're developing a new constellation-ready 15kW spacecraft bus — a product line designed to scale to hundreds of spacecraft per year. Our first mission is a 10-satellite demo launch in Q4 2027, with customers spanning communications constellations, on-orbit compute, and scientific observation. This is the engineering leadership role for that product line. You'll own the technical execution of the spacecraft bus — managing discipline leads across electronics, thermal, GNC, power, structures, and flight software, and delivering flight hardware on schedule.This role carries Chief Engineer responsibility: you are the final technical authority on the satellite bus design. You'll make architecture decisions, run design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR), and own the engineering schedule. You'll manage a growing team of subsystem leads and coordinate with existing teams in solar arrays, electric propulsion, and avionics/software.A core part of our strategy is building a mission factory — software infrastructure that dramatically reduces the time from customer contract to payload on orbit. We do this by empowering subject matter experts with AI code generation tools to build their own engineering software: custom simulation, analysis, test automation, and integration workflows, all backed by rigorous hand-calculation validation suites. This toolchain is already our primary engineering record and the foundation of how we scale. You'll champion this approach across the engineering organization.This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location. Responsibilities: Own technical authority for the satellite bus design — architecture decisions, make/buy, test philosophyManage and grow the engineering team: electronics, thermal, GNC, power, structures, flight software, simulationDrive the engineering schedule — all avionics box development timelines hit their marksRun design review technical content (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR)Define the test strategy for all components and vehicle-level work — set commercial standards for acceptance, protoqual, qualification, and qualification-by-similarity across this product lineCoordinate with the solar array, electric propulsion, and Haven-1 avionics/software teamsDrive make/buy decisions across all subsystemsManage engineering headcount — hiring and team developmentWithin your first 6 weeks:Understand the satellite bus design, simulation toolchain, and program scheduleEstablish working relationships with all subsystem leads and existing team membersTake ownership of the engineering schedule and identify critical path risksBegin hiring and growing the engineering team — identify critical gaps, recruit, and build out the org with both direct and dotted-line reportsTake ownership of engineering execution — coordinate across the organization and drive the program toward PDRMinimum Qualifications:Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline10+ years of engineering experience in aerospace or other hardware-intensive industries5+ years of engineering management experience leading multidisciplinary teamsExperience leading spacecraft or complex hardware development programs from design through environmental test and deliveryManaged teams of 10+ engineers across multiple disciplines (EE, mechanical, thermal, GNC, software)Comfortable as technical authority — you can make architecture-level trade decisions across subsystems, not just manage processExperience with fast-paced, small-team hardware development — startup, new space, or skunkworks environments preferredFamiliar with the full box development lifecycle: design, prototype, environmental test, CDR, flight build, ATP/QTPComfortable with AI-assisted engineering tools and workflowsStrong opinion on how to run a lean, effective hardware development programPreferred Skills & Experience:Able to obtain a security clearanceExperience with CMG or reaction wheel developmentMedium-lift launch vehicle integration experienceExperience delivering multi-satellite builds (constellation or batch production)Background in avionics, power systems, or ADCSPay Range: California$188,600—$267,720 USDCOMPENSATION AND BENEFITSBase 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 Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUSThe 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 OPPORTUNITYVast 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.