Electrical Design Engineer, Avionics

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 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 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 1,000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital, Vast has built the facilities required to manufacture and operate America’s 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 an Electrical Design Engineer, Avionics, reporting to the Senior Director, Electrical Engineering, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.

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

Responsibilities:

• Act as responsible engineer for flight hardware, from conception through build, qualification, flight integration, and ultimately flight operations.

• Perform component selection, design analysis, schematic capture, circuit board design, prototyping, board bring up, debugging, circuit validation, and design documentation for electrical designs.

• Analyze and troubleshoot electronic assemblies, define new processes, design circuits/fixtures/tools, and identify opportunities for improvement in both products and processes.

• Support mission operations by providing real-time input during flight, completing data reviews, monitoring hardware performance, and working with partners to simplify operation of our avionics systems.

• Work with experts from other teams and departments to ensure that fielded systems perform their function while being efficient, manufacturable, and reliable.

• Define acceptance testing and qualification requirements of new and existing hardware, perform development and qualification testing to prove out design, and formally document test results.

• Travel to launch sites for testing and/or operations.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or other engineering discipline.

• Experience with avionics design, analysis, and/or unit level testing.

• Experience with avionics test equipment such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, current probes.

• Experience with analog, digital, or mixed signal multi-layer PCB design.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Experience with PCBA design and Altium or similar software.

• Ability to creatively solve problems and asses risk.

• Understand electrical schematics and electronics manufacturing to analyze and improve test coverage.

• Hands-on experience with sizing, installing and troubleshooting various electronic components.

• Experience with NX or similar CAD software.

• Competence with electrical test equipment (multimeters, oscilloscopes, network analyzers, power supplies, etc.).

• Strong sense of accountability and integrity with excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere.

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to travel up to 10% travel to support launch campaigns.

Pay Range:

• Electrical Design Engineer I: $103,000 - $122,220

• Electrical Design Engineer II: $112,340 - $159,468

• Senior Electrical Design Engineer: $137,760 - $195,552

Pay Range: California

$103,000—$195,552 USD

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

COMPENSATION 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.

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.