Mission Integration Engineer

About the role

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 Mission Integration Engineer to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of human-rated space stations.

The Mission Integration Engineer serves as the primary technical interface between the customer and internal engineering teams, responsible for the successful end-to-end integration of customer payloads onto the spacecraft. This role owns the mission from kickoff through launch and on-orbit commissioning, translating customer requirements into actionable engineering plans and ensuring all interfaces — mechanical, electrical, thermal, software, and operational — are defined, verified, and closed out on schedule.

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

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the customer's primary technical point of contact throughout the mission lifecycle, leading technical interchange meetings, working groups, and formal reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, MRR)
• Develop and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and requirements documents; manage requirement decomposition, allocation, and verification closure
• Coordinate cross-functional engineering teams (structures, power, avionics, thermal, software, GNC, operations) to resolve integration issues and drive trades to closure
• Own the mission integration schedule, tracking deliverables, milestones, and critical path items on both customer and internal sides
• Plan and oversee payload integration and test campaigns, including fit checks, functional testing, and environmental test support
• Manage technical risk: identify, document, and drive disposition of integration risks, non-conformances, and waivers
• Support launch vehicle integration activities and interface coordination (e.g., ICD compliance, coupled loads analysis inputs, range documentation)
• Ensure compliance with export control (ITAR/EAR) requirements in all customer data exchanges

Minimum Qualifications:

•  Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or other engineering discipline

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Experience with facilities within an aerospace industry
•  Familiar with space planning procedures and operations
• Knowledge of computer applications and the ability to easily navigate through different computer software programs
• Ability to create and update request for proposals (RFPs), purchase orders (POs) and facilities work orders in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment
• Ability to make independent judgments with limited information
• Communication skills for relaying data (verbally and in-writing) between other employees, vendors, and customers
• Logical and strategic approach to solving problems
• Ability to read and understand basic floor plans
• Comfortable working in a high-stress environment balancing several projects at any given time, and the flexibility to adjust for abrupt changes in strategic direction.

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time
• Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones
• Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted
• Specific certifications, as appropriate

Pay Range: California

$112,340—$159,468 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 BENEFITS

Base 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 OPPORTUNITY
Vast 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.