Materials & Processes Engineer

Vast is looking for a Materials and Processes Engineer, reporting to the Senior Manager of Supplier Quality and Materials & Processes, 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:

• Design, develop, and fabricate innovative material solutions for crew-facing hardware, interiors, and softgoods for microgravity and artificial gravity environments
• Drive material prototyping, testing, and development in partnership with the Industrial Design and Interiors Structures teams
• Lead advanced materials development for human-centered materials solutions optimized for safety, usability, maintainability, and comfort
• Translate system-level material requirements into elegant, manufacturable solutions
• Author surface finishes, material palettes, CMF (color/material/finish) standards and testing specifications
• Work in conjunction with Supplier Quality Engineering and Purchasing teams for supplier development

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in materials science, materials engineering, textile engineering, or related field
• 4+ years of experience in aerospace or textiles materials development
• Multidisciplinary in plastics, decorative finishing, fabrics and textiles, polymeric films, composites, and natural fibers
• Experience selecting and qualifying materials for extreme environments
• Familiarity with aerospace materials and testing standards (NASA, ESA, MIL, ASTM)
• Strong communication skills and an ability to work cross-functionally in a dynamic environment
• Proven experience with managing multiple complex projects simultaneously and partnering with suppliers
• A demonstrated ability to solve problems using first-principles approach

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Master's degree or PhD in materials science, materials engineering, textile engineering, or chemistry
• Knowledge of flammability, offgassing, and toxicity standards (NASA-STD-6001)
• Hands-on prototyping experience (softgoods manufacturing, adhesive bonding, finishing)
• Experience working in fast-paced, hardware-first startups
• Strong ability to work autonomously and have extreme ownership for areas of responsibility

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to travel up to 30% of the time
• Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones
• Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted

Pay Range:

• Materials and Processes Engineer II: $112,340 - $159,468
• Senior Materials and Processes Engineer: $137,760 - $195,552