$112,340–$159,468 Per Year
Aerospace and Defense, Chemistry, Communication Skills, Composite Materials, Cross-Functional, Industrial Design, Lift/Move 25 Pounds, Manufacturing, Material Science, Materials Engineering, Materials Testing, Multitasking, Problem Solving Skills, Process Engineering, Project/Program Management, Prototyping, Purchasing/Procurement, Quality Engineering, Startup, Test Plan/Schedule, Textile Engineering, Textile Industry, Usability Engineering, Willing to Travel, Writing Skills
Vast is looking for a Materials and Processes Engineer, reporting to the Senior Manager of Supplier Quality and Materials & Processes, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.
Responsibilities:
- Design, develop, and fabricate innovative material solutions for crew-facing hardware, interiors, and softgoods for microgravity and artificial gravity environments
- Drive material prototyping, testing, and development in partnership with the Industrial Design and Interiors Structures teams
- Lead advanced materials development for human-centered materials solutions optimized for safety, usability, maintainability, and comfort
- Translate system-level material requirements into elegant, manufacturable solutions
- Author surface finishes, material palettes, CMF (color/material/finish) standards and testing specifications
- Work in conjunction with Supplier Quality Engineering and Purchasing teams for supplier development
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in materials science, materials engineering, textile engineering, or related field
- 4+ years of experience in aerospace or textiles materials development
- Multidisciplinary in plastics, decorative finishing, fabrics and textiles, polymeric films, composites, and natural fibers
- Experience selecting and qualifying materials for extreme environments
- Familiarity with aerospace materials and testing standards (NASA, ESA, MIL, ASTM)
- Strong communication skills and an ability to work cross-functionally in a dynamic environment
- Proven experience with managing multiple complex projects simultaneously and partnering with suppliers
- A demonstrated ability to solve problems using first-principles approach
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Master's degree or PhD in materials science, materials engineering, textile engineering, or chemistry
- Knowledge of flammability, offgassing, and toxicity standards (NASA-STD-6001)
- Hands-on prototyping experience (softgoods manufacturing, adhesive bonding, finishing)
- Experience working in fast-paced, hardware-first startups
- Strong ability to work autonomously and have extreme ownership for areas of responsibility
Additional Requirements:
- Ability to travel up to 30% of the time
- Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones
- Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted
Pay Range:
- Materials and Processes Engineer II: $112,340 - $159,468
- Senior Materials and Processes Engineer: $137,760 - $195,552