Staff Electric Propulsion Systems Engineer

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. Vast is developing next-generation space stations 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. Using an incremental, hardware-rich and low-cost approach, Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station. 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, followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.

Vast is looking for a Electric Propulsion Systems Engineer , reporting to the Senior Director of Propulsion,, 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

Electric Propulsion System Development

• Serve as Responsible Engineer for Vast's electric propulsion test facilities, owning technical decisions across the buildup and operation
• Define and maintain system requirements, procedures, and test plans for thruster testing
• Establish analysis and test methodology upfront, with clear objectives and success criteria, to support rigorous hardware development and qualification
• Plan and execute development and qualification test campaigns, including hotfire testing, in partnership with internal teams and external facilities
• Maintain awareness of and plan for potential future electric propulsion modalities relevant to Vast missions, including Arcjets, Resistojets, and Magnetoplasmadynamic Thrusters (applied-field and self-field)
• Contribute to forward-looking development of electric propulsion systems using molecular propellants including ASCENT, hydrazine, methane, or other molecular propellants, to enable multimode propulsion architectures that share a common propellant with onboard chemical propulsion systems
• Set and maintain standards for design practice, analysis methodology, documentation, and test approach within the electric propulsion team
• Actively coach engineers on RE responsibilities including understanding requirements, validating assumptions, owning outputs, and thinking critically rather than following processes blindly
• Foster an environment where raising issues early and asking for help are treated as signs of rigor, not weakness
• Partner closely with the broader Propulsion group, GNC, Power, Structures, Design Reliability, and ECLSS teams to ensure electric propulsion systems are well-integrated at the vehicle level
• Support design reviews, present technical findings, and contribute to acceptance and qualification documentation
• Lead or support root cause investigations and corrective actions as issues arise during development, qualification, production, and flight
  
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering, Physics, Engineering Physics, or related field
• Familiarity with roughing pumps, turbo pumps, and cryogenic pumping systems
• Experience with high-voltage harnessing in a vacuum environment
• Demonstrated expertise in electric propulsion system testing
• Experience with electric propulsion diagnostics, including thrust stands, Faraday probes, and retarding potential analyzers
• Deep technical knowledge of Hall Effect Thruster design, operation, and qualification
• Experience with electric propulsion system-level engineering, including thruster-PPU-propellant feed system integration
• Proven ability to work independently, lead technical efforts, and make sound engineering decisions across broad scope with minimal oversight
  
  
  

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Engineering Physics, or related field. Given the technical depth and independent judgment required at this level, doctoral preparation is strongly preferred
• Hands-on experience with electric propulsion qualification/flight test campaigns, including plasma diagnostics, hotfire testing, and performance characterization
• Demonstrated experience understanding and analyzing Hall thruster plasmas, including discharge characteristics and plume probe data
• Experience with propellant feed system design and integration for electric propulsion applications
• Knowledge of spacecraft power systems and their interface with electric propulsion systems
• Experience supporting human spaceflight programs or flight qualification in a rigorous certification environment
• Familiarity with additional electric propulsion modalities such as Arcjets, Resistojets, or Magnetoplasmadynamic Thrusters
• Familiarity with molecular propellant applications in electric propulsion, multimode propulsion architectures, or propellant recovery and reuse in life support integrated systems
  
  
  

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time
• Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones
• Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted
  
  
  

Pay Range

• Propulsion Engineer II: $112,340 - $159,468
• Senior Propulsion Engineer: $137,760 - $195,552
• Staff Propulsion Engineer: $162,360 - $230,472
  
  
  

Pay Range: California

$112,340—$230,472 USD

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.

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 by 22 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.