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 Power Electronics Engineer, reporting to the Manager, Power Electronics, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.
Responsibilities:
- End-to-end ownership of power electronics specification, architecture, simulation, schematic capture, PCB design, mechanical packaging design, board-level bring-up and validation, environmental qualification, and integrated system-level validation.
- Design circuits to implement functions such as power conversion, load switching, hot-swapping, power conditioning, inrush control, over-current fault detection, and more.
- Perform failure modes and effects analyses and drive reliability design and validation plans at the system level.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.
- 2 years of experience in developing power electronics.
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Ability to creatively solve problems and bring multiple disciplines together while assessing risk and making design and development decisions with incomplete data set.
- Experience working in collegiate project teams (e.g. Formula SAE, Hybrid Electric Vehicle) and/or professional experience Professional experience with instrumentation and data acquisition (e.g. SPICE, SQL, and/or National Instruments hardware).
- Experience with software programming: Matlab, Python, C/C++, etc.
- Experience with vehicle and instrumentation buses such as Ethernet, CAN, SPI, and I2C, as well as serial I/O (RS232/422/485).
- Experience with full-lifecycle product development.
- Experience with designing electronics for spaceflight environment, verifying workmanship and operability through environmental test (random vibration, shock, thermal, burn-in, and TVAC).
- Strong sense of accountability and integrity with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to thrive at an early-stage startup where you will have the opportunity to help create and optimize key systems and processes.
Additional Requirements:
- Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones.
Pay Range:
- Power Electronics Engineer II: $110,000-$140,000
Senior Power Electronics Engineer: $135,000-$175,000
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: 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.
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.