Staff Thermal Engineer

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 a Staff Thermal Engineer, reporting to the Senior Manager, Thermal Analysis, 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.

Responsibilities:

• Develop thermal systems requirements

• Perform thermal analysis to develop and optimize thermal control designs and provide solutions to a wide range of difficult problems

• Coordinate and partner with other engineering disciplines

• Document thermal analyses and designs

• Review and approve drawings for thermal design hardware content

• Report results of analyses and design specifics to internal management and external customers

• Work with test engineering to plan and execute subsystem level thermal tests, especially thermal vacuum chamber (TVAC) testing, as well as perform associated analyses

• Provide feedback regarding impacts of possible cost and/ or schedule changes

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or related Engineering discipline with a minimum of 10+ years of related professional work experience, or a Master's degree in a related engineering discipline and 5+ years of experience

• Knowledge and understanding of the application of technical principles, theories, and concepts for developing active thermal control systems

• Expert with thermal analysis tool: Thermal Desktop

• Extensive experience with TVAC testing

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Design, analysis and integration experience of spacecraft thermal systems

• Experience using other thermal analysis tools (FloCAD, Ansys Mechanical, SINDA/G, SINDA/FLUINT, TSS)

• Experience using fluid analysis tools like Ansys Fluent, FloEFD, StarCCM+

• Experience using aerospace standard design tools (NX, CATIA, CREO)

• Experience with space vehicle thermal design and/or integration

• Experience with active and passive thermal control systems and technologies (pumped fluid loops, heat pipes, etc.))

• Spacecraft and/or Payload background with experience through the entire system lifecycle from concept, design, production, integration, test, launch, to operation support

• Ability to develop novel concepts for active thermal control systems for space habitats

Pay Range: California

$175,480—$249,096 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.