Mechanical Engineering, Structures

Long Beach · 2-4 years experience · Full-time · Onsite · Posted Oct 12, 2026

At a glance

Vast is looking for a Mechanical Engineer, Structures to help develop the systems behind human-rated space stations.
You will use your engineering knowledge and creativity to design, build, and test novel solutions at the cutting edge of space technology.

Own the design of primary and secondary structures for a large-scale space station, from concept through flight hardware.
Apply knowledge of static and dynamic loads, vibration, thermal, and other environments to drive design decisions and define design margins.
Perform mechanical design and analysis, and release manufacturing drawings, test plans, and concepts of operations for your hardware.
Lead trade studies, and own interfaces and interface control documents with other subsystems.
Own requirements verification through test, analysis, inspection, or demonstration, and lead structural testing and qualification.
Follow hardware through fabrication, assembly, and test, working with fabricators and technicians to improve designs, develop processes, and resolve issues.

B.S. in mechanical, aerospace, or civil engineering, physics, mathematics, or a related technical field.
2+ years of experience designing and developing mechanical components or systems.
Proficiency with 3D CAD and FEA software packages.
Experience implementing and analyzing GD&T per ASME Y14.5.

Design of structures and components for a high-performance vehicle or spacecraft.
Experience with design work in recent versions of NX and Teamcenter.
Experience with thermal and structural analysis using Ansys, Femap/Nastran, Abaqus, or similar tools.
Experience implementing and analyzing GD&T per ASME Y14.5.
Proactive problem-solving skills, including failure analysis and root cause investigation.
Experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Familiarity with spacecraft specifications and environmental test standards such as SMC-S-016, NASA-STD-5001, and MIL-STD-810.