Propulsion Engineer - Pressure Vessels Lead (COPV)

About Vast Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure to ensure 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 in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030. With more than 1,000 employees at its Long Beach, California, headquarters and over a billion dollars in private capital invested, Vast has built the facilities required to manufacture and operate America’s next space station. The company plans to develop future habitats 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

Building next-generation space infrastructure

V

vastspace.com

501-1,000 employees

Defense and Space Manufacturing

Long Beach, California

2021

Privately Held

115k LinkedIn followers

Raised $650M

• Lead the pressure vessel team: set technical direction, review the work, and develop the responsible engineers and analysts under you
• Serve as technical authority over the Haven Station COPV and metallic tank designs, reviewing and approving releases from the responsible engineers
• Set the analysis and test approach for the team: composite layup analysis, stress and fracture, proof, burst, cycle, and stress rupture testing
• Lead failure investigations on prototype and qualification hardware and carry the findings into the next design iteration
• Own tank requirements and interfaces with Propulsion, ECLSS, and Structures
• Support the responsible engineers with the liner supplier, the winder, and the metallic fabrication shops on specifications, deviations, inspection, and acceptance
• Work with the matrixed manufacturing engineers on producibility, inspection methods, and a plan to bring winding in house
• Write and defend the qualification and fracture control approach for crewed flight

Required

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, materials science, or equivalent experience
• 4+ years of experience designing, analyzing, or testing pressure vessels or composite structures for flight or other high consequence use
• Experience carrying hardware from design through build and test
• Fracture control for crewed spacecraft per NASA-STD-5019
• Filament winding pattern design and composite manufacturing
• Titanium tank fabrication: forgings, superplastic forming, welding, heat treatment, and inspection
• Propellant management device design
• Type IV hydrogen or CNG tank development
• Analysis in Ansys, Abaqus, or Femap/Nastran, including laminate analysis. WoundSim or similar winding simulation is a plus
• Experience leading or mentoring engineers and reviewing their design releases
• Hands-on time in a composites or pressure vessel shop
• Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends to support critical mission milestones
• Occasional travel to suppliers and to the Mojave Test Site
• Pay Range: California
• $136,120—$193,224 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.

Preferred

• Composite overwrapped pressure vessel design, analysis, or test, for propulsion, life support, or any other application

• 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.