Manufacturing Engineer - Factory Systems & Rate Production

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 Manufacturing Engineer – Factory Systems & Rate Production, reporting to the Director of Operational Excellence, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. Use this space to describe the role and sell the candidate on the cool stuff they would get to work on. This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location. Responsibilities • Own Haven-2 factory layout and production system architecture, including maintain authoritative, up-to-date floor plans and work center configurations, and lead future-state factory design to meet rate production requirements as the program scales • Lead DFM/DFA reviews and manufacturing readiness activities from development through production, partnering directly with design engineering to optimize producibility, assembly efficiency, and transition readiness and representing Manufacturing Engineering in design reviews (PDR, CDR), manufacturing readiness reviews (MRR), and production readiness reviews (PRR) • Define, implement, and own key performance metrics across all Haven-2 work centers including throughput, cycle time, first-pass yield, and capacity utilization and design the data infrastructure and reporting systems required to monitor, analyze, and act on production performance • Lead structured continuous improvement programs using Lean, Six Sigma, and value stream design methodologies, conducting time and motion studies (MOST, Yamazumi), identifying bottlenecks, and implementing standardized, scalable solutions that measurably improve throughput and reduce cycle time • Develop and maintain the full suite of manufacturing documentation, including process plans, routings, standard work, and work instructions ensuring consistency, repeatability, and compliance with AS9100 and applicable aerospace workmanship standards • Specify, qualify, and deploy tooling, fixtures, and production equipment, including coordinating custom tooling design to enable efficient, repeatable assembly of complex space hardware • Drive process standardization across products, assemblies, and work centers, reducing variability and building the operational foundation necessary for sustainable rate scaling • Lead process qualification and manufacturing readiness activities, including first article inspections (FAI), process validation, and AS9100 certification efforts acting as the primary manufacturing engineering project management resource for these initiatives • Facilitate regular production performance reviews with manufacturing, quality, and supply chain leadership presenting data-driven analysis of throughput, efficiency, and rate performance, and leading corrective action on identified gaps • Act as a hands-on systems-level problem solver on the manufacturing floor, bringing structured analytical rigor and practical engineering judgment to complex operational challenges • Proven expertise in Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies, with demonstrated results in throughput improvement, cycle time reduction, and process standardization • Experience conducting time and motion analysis (MOST, Yamazumi, or equivalent) to establish standard work and quantify improvement opportunities • Hands-on experience developing and maintaining manufacturing documentation (process plans, routings, work instructions) in compliance with AS9100 or equivalent quality management systems • Strong data and analytics skills demonstrated ability to design manufacturing performance metrics, build dashboards, and drive decisions from production data using tools such as Tableau, Power BI, or SQL • Strong cross-functional communication skills, with experience presenting manufacturing performance, risks, and strategies to engineering and operations leadership • Proven project management capability across concurrent manufacturing initiatives with multiple stakeholders Preferred Qualifications • Lean or Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt) with quantified project results • Direct experience with AS9100 certification, audits, or quality management system implementation in an aerospace or defense manufacturing environment • Experience leading manufacturing readiness reviews (MRR), production readiness reviews (PRR), or first article inspections (FAI) for flight or high-reliability hardware programs • Familiarity with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) or ERP/MRP platforms (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Aligni) and experience leveraging them to improve production traceability and efficiency • Proficiency with CAD or facility planning tools (AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or equivalent) for factory layout and work center design • Experience scaling production from low-rate initial production (LRIP) to high-rate production for complex aerospace or space hardware • Familiarity with PFMEA, process validation, and quality planning methodologies applied to aerospace hardware manufacturing • Advanced skills in manufacturing data visualization and analytics, including experience building integrated reporting systems from multiple production data sources Pay Range • Manufacturing Engineer II: $112,000 - $159,000 • Senior Manufacturing Engineer: $137,700 - $195,000 • Staff Manufacturing Engineer: $162,00 - $230,000 Pay Range: California $112,000—$230,000 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: 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.