Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Control Systems
Long Beach · 2-4 years experience · Full-time · Onsite · Posted Oct 12, 2026
At a glance
- Experience
- 2-4 years experience
- Employment
- Full-time
- Workplace
- Onsite
- Location
- Long Beach
About the role
- Vast is looking for Mechanical Engineer, Thermal Control Systems, to help develop the systems behind our human-rated space stations.
- You'll use your engineering knowledge and creativity to design, build, and test novel solutions at the cutting edge of space technology.
Responsibilities
- Own the design and development of thermal control systems and components for our artificial-gravity space station, such as heat exchangers, cold plates, heaters, and heat pipes, from initial design trades through a fully validated system.
- Lead thermal and fluid analyses, and use the results to drive design decisions and define margins.
- Perform systems engineering for your hardware, including requirements, interfaces, and verification by test, analysis, inspection, or demonstration.
- Lead development and qualification testing, and iterate on designs and manufacturing processes in a fast-paced environment.
- Own the delivery timeline for your hardware from early design through production, launch, and orbit insertion.
- Lead internal design reviews and technical reviews with suppliers and customers.
- Partner with avionics, software, and mission operations teams to make sure your system integrates across the station.
- Make sure designs are manufacturable and reliable, working with fabricators, technicians, and suppliers to resolve issues.
Requirements
- 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.
Preferred qualifications
- 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.
Benefits
- 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
- exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized
Skills
- 3D CAD
- FEA
- GD&T
- ASME Y14.5
- NX
- Teamcenter
- Ansys
- Femap/Nastran
- Abaqus
