Manager, Thermal Control Systems at Vast

<div class="content-intro"><p>At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. Vast is developing next-generation space stations to ensure a continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and unlocking a new space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Using an incremental, hardware-rich and low-cost approach, Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station. Haven Demo’s 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Next, Haven-1 is expected to become the world’s first commercial space station when it launches, followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030. 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.</p></div><p>Vast is seeking a <strong>Manager, Thermal Control Systems</strong>, reporting to the Senior Manager, Thermal Control Systems Hardware, to lead the development of the thermal and fluid systems that enable artificial gravity and long-term human habitation in space. In this role, you will guide a small team of mechanical engineers while also contributing directly to system architecture, design, and test. You will shape mission-critical hardware that must operate flawlessly in orbit and play a key role in advancing human-rated spaceflight. <br><br>This <strong>full-time, exempt</strong> role is based in <strong>Long Beach, CA</strong>.</p> <p><strong>Responsibilities</strong><strong><br></strong><strong><br></strong><strong>Leadership &amp; Team Development</strong></p> <ul> <li>Lead and mentor a team of mechanical engineers responsible for thermal and fluid system hardware.</li> <li>Set technical direction, prioritize development efforts, and foster a culture of ownership and continuous improvement.</li> <li>Provide guidance on design decisions, analyses, and test plans, ensuring high-quality engineering outputs.</li> <li>Manage workloads, support professional development, and ensure on-time execution of deliverables.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Technical Ownership</strong></p> <ul> <li>Own the architecture and performance of thermal control system hardware, including tubing, trays, and fluid loops.</li> <li>Lead hardware through its full lifecycle—from design trades through manufacturing, qualification, launch prep, and on-orbit operation.</li> <li>Drive rapid prototyping and iterative testing to mature designs in a fast-paced environment.</li> <li>Oversee systems engineering tasks, including analyses, requirements, and cross-team integration (i.e. Avionics, Software, Mission Operations, etc.)</li> <li>Lead internal and external design reviews and ensure hardware meets human-rated reliability and safety requirements.</li> <li>Ensure manufacturable, production-ready designs and collaborate closely with technicians, manufacturing engineers, and integration teams.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Minimum Qualifications</strong></p> <ul> <li>Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related discipline</li> <li>Experience working with fluid systems</li> <li>5+ years of hands-on hardware experience (fabrication, assembly, and/or testing)</li> <li>1+ year leading or mentoring engineers</li> </ul> <p><strong>Preferred Skills &amp; Experience</strong></p> <ul> <li>Leadership experience in a fast-paced hardware development environment</li> <li>Ownership of mechanical or fluid systems across multiple development phases</li> <li>Strong problem-solving and root-cause analysis skills</li> <li>First-principles engineering and ability to guide team-level trade studies</li> <li>Experience with rotating machinery</li> <li>Proficiency in NX, GD&amp;T, and tolerance analysis</li> <li>Structural analysis experience (hand calcs, FEMAP, ANSYS)</li> <li>Familiarity with machining, welding, brazing, and tube bending</li> <li>Excellent communication and leadership skills in a mission-driven environment</li> </ul> <p><strong>Additional Requirements</strong></p> <ul> <li>Ability to travel up to 5%</li> <li>Willingness to support occasional evening or weekend work during critical mission phases</li> </ul> <p><strong>Pay Range:&nbsp;</strong></p> <ul> <li>Manager, Thermal Control Systems: $135,800 - $176,400</li> </ul><div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="title">Pay Range: California</div><div class="pay-range"><span>$154,980</span><span class="divider">&mdash;</span><span>$219,996 USD</span></div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion"><div style="line-height: 1;"><strong>COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS</strong></div> <div style="line-height: 1;">&nbsp;</div> <div style="line-height: 1;"> <div> <div data-qa="message_pane"> <div> <div id="message-list"> <div id="message-list"> <div data-qa="slack_kit_scrollbar"> <div> <div data-qa="slack_kit_list"> <div id="message-list_1770163429.476589" data-qa="virtual-list-item" data-item-key="1770163429.476589"> <div data-qa="message_container" data-qa-unprocessed="false" data-qa-placeholder="false" data-msg-ts="1770163429.476589" data-msg-channel-id="D1T52LDR4"> <div data-qa-hover="true"> <div> <div> <div> <div data-qa="message_content"> <div> <div data-qa="message-text"> <div data-qa="block-kit-renderer"> <div> <div> <div>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, 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, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee &amp; onsite barista, 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.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="message-list_bottomSpacer" data-qa="virtual-list-item" data-item-key="bottomSpacer"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div>&nbsp;</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div style="line-height: 1;"> <p><strong>U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS</strong></p> 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 <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-22/section-120.62">22 C.F.R. § 120.62</a> 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.</div> <div style="line-height: 1;">&nbsp;</div> <p style="line-height: 1;"><strong>EQUAL OPPORTUNITY</strong></p> <div style="line-height: 1;">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.</div></div>