Verified Job
Engineering - Architecture
Director, Satellite Engineering
Engineering - Architecture
#30874
Remote / WFH
Vast
Job Description
Vast is seeking an experienced Director, Satellite Engineering to lead development of a new constellation-ready 15kW spacecraft bus — a product line designed to scale to hundreds of spacecraft per year. Our first mission is a 10-satellite demo launch with customers spanning communications constellations, on-orbit compute, and scientific observation.
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.
Responsibilities:
Own technical authority for the satellite bus design — architecture decisions, make/buy, test philosophy
Drive make/buy decisions across all subsystems
Manage engineering headcount — hiring and team development
Within your first 6 weeks:
Understand the satellite bus design, simulation toolchain, and program schedule
Establish working relationships with all subsystem leads and existing team members
Take ownership of the engineering schedule and identify critical path risks
Begin hiring and growing the engineering team — identify critical gaps, recruit, and build out the org with both direct and dotted-line reports
Take ownership of engineering execution — coordinate across the organization and drive the program toward PDR
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline
10+ years of engineering experience in aerospace or other hardware-intensive industries
5+ years of engineering management experience leading multidisciplinary teams
Experience leading spacecraft or complex hardware development programs from design through environmental test and delivery
Managed teams of 10+ engineers across multiple disciplines (EE, mechanical, thermal, GNC, software)
Comfortable as technical authority — you can make architecture-level trade decisions across subsystems, not just manage process
Experience with fast-paced, small-team hardware development — startup, new space, or skunkworks environments preferred
Familiar with the full box development lifecycle: design, prototype, environmental test, CDR, flight build, ATP/QTP
Comfortable with AI-assisted engineering tools and workflows
Strong opinion on how to run a lean, effective hardware development program
Preferred Skills & Experience:
Able to obtain a security clearance
Experience with CMG or reaction wheel development
Medium-lift launch vehicle integration experience
Experience delivering multi-satellite builds (constellation or batch production)
Background in avionics, power systems, or ADCS
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, 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 & 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.
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.
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.
Responsibilities:
Own technical authority for the satellite bus design — architecture decisions, make/buy, test philosophy
Drive make/buy decisions across all subsystems
Manage engineering headcount — hiring and team development
Within your first 6 weeks:
Understand the satellite bus design, simulation toolchain, and program schedule
Establish working relationships with all subsystem leads and existing team members
Take ownership of the engineering schedule and identify critical path risks
Begin hiring and growing the engineering team — identify critical gaps, recruit, and build out the org with both direct and dotted-line reports
Take ownership of engineering execution — coordinate across the organization and drive the program toward PDR
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline
10+ years of engineering experience in aerospace or other hardware-intensive industries
5+ years of engineering management experience leading multidisciplinary teams
Experience leading spacecraft or complex hardware development programs from design through environmental test and delivery
Managed teams of 10+ engineers across multiple disciplines (EE, mechanical, thermal, GNC, software)
Comfortable as technical authority — you can make architecture-level trade decisions across subsystems, not just manage process
Experience with fast-paced, small-team hardware development — startup, new space, or skunkworks environments preferred
Familiar with the full box development lifecycle: design, prototype, environmental test, CDR, flight build, ATP/QTP
Comfortable with AI-assisted engineering tools and workflows
Strong opinion on how to run a lean, effective hardware development program
Preferred Skills & Experience:
Able to obtain a security clearance
Experience with CMG or reaction wheel development
Medium-lift launch vehicle integration experience
Experience delivering multi-satellite builds (constellation or batch production)
Background in avionics, power systems, or ADCS
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, 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 & 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.
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.
