Staff Electric Propulsion Systems Engineer

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. Vast is looking for a Electric Propulsion Systems Engineer , reporting to the Senior Director of Propulsion, , to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of human-rated space stations. This will be a  full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location. Responsibilities:  Electric Propulsion System Development Serve as Responsible Engineer for Vast's electric propulsion test facilities, owning technical decisions across the buildup and operation Define and maintain system requirements, procedures, and test plans for thruster testing Establish analysis and test methodology upfront, with clear objectives and success criteria, to support rigorous hardware development and qualification Plan and execute development and qualification test campaigns, including hotfire testing, in partnership with internal teams and external facilities Maintain awareness of and plan for potential future electric propulsion modalities relevant to Vast missions, including Arcjets, Resistojets, and Magnetoplasmadynamic Thrusters (applied-field and self-field) Contribute to forward-looking development of electric propulsion systems using molecular propellants including ASCENT, hydrazine, methane, or other molecular propellants, to enable multimode propulsion architectures that share a common propellant with onboard chemical propulsion systems Set and maintain standards for design practice, analysis methodology, documentation, and test approach within the electric propulsion team Actively coach engineers on RE responsibilities including understanding requirements, validating assumptions, owning outputs, and thinking critically rather than following processes blindly Foster an environment where raising issues early and asking for help are treated as signs of rigor, not weakness Partner closely with the broader Propulsion group, GNC, Power, Structures, Design Reliability, and ECLSS teams to ensure electric propulsion systems are well-integrated at the vehicle level Support design reviews, present technical findings, and contribute to acceptance and qualification documentation Lead or support root cause investigations and corrective actions as issues arise during development, qualification, production, and flight Minimum Qualifications: B.S. degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering, Physics, Engineering Physics, or related field Familiarity with roughing pumps, turbo pumps, and cryogenic pumping systems Experience with high-voltage harnessing in a vacuum environment Demonstrated expertise in electric propulsion system testing Experience with electric propulsion diagnostics, including thrust stands, Faraday probes, and retarding potential analyzers Deep technical knowledge of Hall Effect Thruster design, operation, and qualification Experience with electric propulsion system-level engineering, including thruster-PPU-propellant feed system integration Proven ability to work independently, lead technical efforts, and make sound engineering decisions across broad scope with minimal oversight Preferred Skills & Experience:  Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Engineering Physics, or related field. Given the technical depth and independent judgment required at this level, doctoral preparation is strongly preferred Hands-on experience with electric propulsion qualification/flight test campaigns, including plasma diagnostics, hotfire testing, and performance characterization Demonstrated experience understanding and analyzing Hall thruster plasmas, including discharge characteristics and plume probe data Experience with propellant feed system design and integration for electric propulsion applications Knowledge of spacecraft power systems and their interface with electric propulsion systems Experience supporting human spaceflight programs or flight qualification in a rigorous certification environment Familiarity with additional electric propulsion modalities such as Arcjets, Resistojets, or Magnetoplasmadynamic Thrusters Familiarity with molecular propellant applications in electric propulsion, multimode propulsion architectures, or propellant recovery and reuse in life support integrated systems Additional Requirements: Ability to travel up to 10% of the time Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted Pay Range:  Propulsion Engineer II: $112,340 - $159,468 Senior Propulsion Engineer: $137,760 - $195,552 Staff Propulsion Engineer: $162,360 - $230,472 Pay Range: California $112,340 — $230,472 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 e