Senior Software Engineer, Backend

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

• Design, build, and maintain scalable backend services, tools, and pipelines
• supporting mission-critical security systems.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to design and implement
• secure, high-performance services and APIs.
• Develop and maintain backend infrastructure for authentication,
• authorization, and secure data handling.
• Establish and promote best practices for backend architecture, security, and
• code quality at scale.
• Build systems that are reliable, observable, and capable of supporting a
• rapidly growing codebase and engineering team.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
• 6+ years of backend software engineering experience, with exposure to
• security-focused systems (e.g., IAM, API security, certificate management).
• Strong experience building and operating backend services in cloud
• environments.
• Proficiency in at least one modern programming language (Python, Go, Rust,
• C++, etc.).
• Solid understanding of distributed systems, API design, and backend
• architecture.
• Experience working in Linux environments, including command line and
• scripting.
• Ability to travel up to 10% 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.
• Senior Software Engineer, Backend: $159,000 - $226,000
• Staff Software Engineer, Backend: $188,600 - $267,000
• Pay Range: California
• $159,000—$267,000 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

• environments.
• Familiarity with DevOps practices and tools (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Experience designing and scaling APIs and microservices.
• Background in one or more security domains (e.g., cryptography, network
• security, infrastructure security).
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across teams.
• Ownership mindset with a bias toward action and continuous improvement.

• 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.
• The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S.
• C.F.R. § 120.62 [https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-22/section-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.