Senior System Architect, Lunar
Job Location:
Long Beach, NY - USA
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
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 Demos 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 worlds 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 1000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital Vast has built the facilities required to manufacture and operate Americas 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 Senior System Architect Lunar reporting to the Senior Vice President Lunar Programs to support the development of the systems that will be required for Vasts Lunar ecosystem.
This will be a full-timeexempt position located in ourLong Beachlocation.
Responsibilities:
- Define develop and maintain the end-to-end system architecture for Vasts Lunar ecosystem spanning surface habitats power and energy communications/PNT logistics and crew systems
- Translate NASA Moon Base architecture mission needs and human-rating requirements into Vast system requirements concepts of operations and interface control documents
- Perform architecture trade studies across mission design transportation and lander compatibility surface element sizing autonomy and in-situ resource utilization to inform program decisions
- Adapt and extend proven Haven Demo Haven-1 Haven Station and Vast Satellite technologies subsystems and operational knowledge to the lunar environment
- Collaborate daily with internal engineering teams structures life support (ECLSS) avionics and power software thermal and human factors to decompose thearchitecture into executable subsystem designs and to flow capabilities and best practices up to the overall architecture
- Develop and manage system budgets (mass power data thermal consumables)
- Identify architecture-level risks drive mitigation strategies and support program milestone reviews
- Represent Vasts lunar architecture with external partners suppliers and customers and support business development and proposal efforts as needed
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering Electrical Engineering Aerospace Engineering Systems Engineering or related field
- 6 years of experience in design ownership systems integration test engineering of which at least 1 years are systems engineering focused
- Experience owning system-level architecture requirements and interfaces across the full lifecycle from concept development through design reviews
- Strong working knowledge of spacecraft subsystems and their interactions (power thermal life support avionics communications structures)
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to present complex technical trades clearly to executives customers and engineers
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Strong systems-level intuition and experience in technical leadership roles on spacecraft launch vehicles or other mission- or safety-critical systems
- Experience working on lunar engineering programs
- Comprehensive understanding of one or more core engineering disciplines (Structures Thermal Avionics Power Flight Software etc.)
- Demonstrated experience working with NASA or other government customers on technical requirements deliverables and reviews
- Hands-on experience with requirements and/or project management tools
- Experience leading design reviews (PDR CDR) and verification campaigns
- Familiarity with NASAs Moon Base program Artemis architecture human-rating standards and/or commercial partnership models
- Experience with crewed systems habitats or life support in extreme environments
- Experience in a fast-paced hardware-rich startup environment with rapid design-build-test cycles
- Experience standing up new programs or teams from the ground up
Additional Requirements:
- Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones
- Ability to travel up to 20% of the time to support customer meetings
Pay Range: California
$147600 - $249000 USD
We calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidates 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 Vasts ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.
U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS
The 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 by22 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 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.
Required Experience:
Senior IC
About Company
Vast is developing humanity’s most capable space stations, pioneering the next giant leap toward long-term living and thriving in space.
