Space Simulation Technician

Long Beach, California, United States

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. We are building artificial gravity space stations, allowing long-term stays in space without the adverse effects of zero-gravity. Our initial crewed space habitat will be Haven-1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station when it launches into low earth orbit in May 2026. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.

Vast is looking for a Space Simulation Technician, reporting to the Supervisor of Environmental Testing to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. 

This will be a full-time non-exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Shift: 

  • 1st shift: 6:00am - 2:30pm
  • 2nd shift: 2:00pm - 10:30pm 

Responsibilities: 

  • Perform thermal vacuum, thermal cycling, vibration and shock testing for development, qualification, and acceptance test campaigns
  • Support bench top test setups as well as environment specific test support systems
  • Develop and modify testing procedures to adhere to test requirements
  • Review test plans, requirements, SOWs, fixture design, etc. 
  • Install required instrumentation on article to test and log data to support Tvac, vibe, thermal, and shock
  • Maintain test lab and equipment across vibe, thermal, and shock
  • Familiar with data acquisitions required to support data logging and data management
  • Aid in best practices development for test lab use and environmental testing conduct
  • Ability to train personnel on environmental test operation and process

Minimum Qualifications:

  • 2+ years of hands-on mechanical experience
  • High School Diploma or equivalency certificate

Preferred Skills & Experience:

  • 3+ years of environmental testing work experience inc (vibration and thermal testing)
  • Experience with facilities within an aerospace industry
  • EMI testing experience related to support and test setup
  • Ability to troubleshoot issues across multiple test environments and conditions
  • Familiar with space planning procedures and operations
  • Ability to create and update request for proposals (RFPs), purchase orders (POs) and facilities work orders in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software
  • Ability to make independent judgments with limited information
  • Ability to work effectively in a team environment
  • Communication skills for relaying data (verbally and in-writing) between other employees, vendors, and customers
  • Logical and strategic approach to solving problems
  • Comfortable working in a high-stress environment balancing several projects at any given time, and the flexibility to adjust for abrupt changes in strategic direction
  • Ability to read and understand basic schematics
  • Knowledge of computer applications and the ability to easily navigate through different computer software programs
  • Experience utilizing generic hand tools

Additional Requirements:

  • Ability to travel up to 20% of the time
  • Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones
  • Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted

Pay Ranges: 

  • Space Simulation Technician I: $20.00 - $30.00
  • Space Simulation Technician II: $28.00 - $40.00
  • Space Simulation Technician III: $33.00 - $45.00

Salary Range: California

$20 - $45 USD

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
 
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: 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, flexible paid time off for exempt staff and up to 10 days of vacation for non-exempt staff, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, One Medical membership, 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, 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.

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 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.
 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

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The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise be considered for deemed export licensing. To assist Vast in assessing its export compliance obligations in relation to your application, please identify which ITAR/EAR status applies to you:

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The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise be considered for deemed export licensing. To assist Vast in assessing its export compliance obligations in relation to your application, please identify which ITAR/EAR status applies to you:

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