Senior System Safety Engineer

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 August 2025. 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 Senior System Safety Engineer, reporting to the Senior Director, Flight Safety & Mission Assurance, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.

As a System Safety Engineer at Vast, within the Flight Safety and Mission Assurance organization, you will help pave the way for safe access to space. You will work in a fast-paced engineering environment, engaging with engineers to identify areas of opportunity for design improvements, minimize risk to people and property, and increase the probability of mission success. Your work will influence the design, operation, and maintenance of a human rated space station. If you enjoy being challenged, working on cutting edge space technology, and using all the tools in your belt to tackle real problems limiting access to human spaceflight, come join us.

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

Responsibilities:

• Partner with engineering teams to understand how their systems operate and generate safety controls
• Identify areas of opportunity for design improvements that minimize risk to people and property
• Participate in design reviews to communicate safety analysis and outcomes, to both internal and external partners

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of a B.S. degree in aerospace engineering or related field with experience in aerospace, aviation, or a similar safety critical industry
• Experience performing system safety activities such as functional hazard analyses, crew survivability analysis, safety data package, human error assessment, range safety compliance
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, fluid schematics, and electrical circuit diagrams
• Strong safety and mission assurance fundamentals
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills, and ability to communicate technical information to non-technical partners
• Ability to form relationships with experts from varying engineering fields and provide constructive feedback about safety concerns

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Experience performing system safety analyses and certification of human-rated space systems
• Experience performing compliance assessment of system safety processes and products against external standards including Range Safety (91-710), NASA, FAA, MIL-STD-882, or ARP-4761

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time
• Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones
• Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted
• Specific certifications, as appropriate

Salary Range: California

$135,000—$170,000 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 15 days of vacation for non-exempt staff, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, free catered meals and snacks and beverages, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, One Medical membership, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks.

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.