Vast
Aerospace
Director,FluidSystemsTest
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“Director, Fluid Systems Test at Vast. Skills: Fluid systems testing, Test infrastructure, Organizational leadership, Aerospace development. Lead Fluids Test organization. Develop and execute fluids test strategy”
What You'll Achieve.
Improve test throughput; Improve test utilization; Improve test reliability; Improve schedule predictability
Industry & Context.
Root cause investigation; Troubleshooting; Failure analysis
Extended hours, Weekends, Occasional travel
What They're Looking For.
Must Have
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related technical discipline, 10+ years of experience in aerospace, military and defense, launch vehicle, spacecraft, propulsion, or complex fluid systems testing environments, 5+ years of technical leadership or people management experience leading engineering or test organizations, Experience developing, operating, or scaling fluid, propulsion, thermal, cryogenic, pneumatic, or pressurized system test infrastructure, Understanding of instrumentation systems, data acquisition (DAQ), controls integration, automation systems, and test operations, Experience leading high-risk operations involving hazardous fluids, cryogenic systems, pressure systems, or oxygen-compatible systems, Demonstrated success leading integrated test campaigns under aggressive hardware development schedules, Experience partnering cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, systems engineering, quality, and operations organizations, Analytical, operational decision-making, root cause investigation, and troubleshooting skills, Excellent communication and leadership skills
Nice to Have
Experience supporting human-rated spacecraft, launch vehicles, or advanced aerospace development programs, Familiarity with NASA, aerospace, military, or commercial spaceflight fluid systems testing standards and operational practices, Experience with propulsion hot-fire testing, thermal vacuum testing, integrated environmental testing, or spacecraft acceptance testing, Knowledge of cryogenic systems, oxygen systems, hypergolic fluid handling, pressurized systems, or life support fluid systems, Experience scaling test infrastructure and operations in fast-paced hardware development environments, Background supporting launch campaigns, mission operations, vehicle integration, or flight certification activities, Experience building large-scale engineering or operations organizations supporting critical test infrastructure, Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related technical discipline, Ability to work extended hours and weekends, Ability to travel occasionally
What You'll Do.
Lead Fluids Test organization
Develop and execute fluids test strategy
and scale multidisciplinary organization
maintenance of test stands
Define and drive integrated test campaigns
Partner closely with other teams
Establish rigorous engineering and operational processes
Lead test readiness reviews
Develop organizational metrics
Manage facility utilization
Support acceptance testing
Help establish operational philosophy
Foster culture of technical excellence
How You'll Work.
Team & Collaboration
Cross-functional teams; Engineering teams; Manufacturing teams; Systems engineering teams; Mission operations teams
Communication Scope
Present technical updates; Present programmatic updates
Process & Methodology
Schedule predictability
Full Job Description
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 seeking an experienced and highly driven Director, Fluid Systems Test, reporting to the Vice President of Fluid Systems, to lead the strategy, execution, and scaling of fluids test operations supporting the development of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations and supporting spacecraft systems. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in fluid systems testing, infrastructure development, high-risk operations, and organizational leadership within fast-paced aerospace or complex hardware development environments. This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach, California location. Responsibilities Lead the Fluids Test organization responsible for component, subsystem, and integrated system development and qualification testing across propulsion, thermal control systems, ECLSS, pressurized systems, and spacecraft fluid distribution hardware Develop and execute the long-term fluids test strategy supporting Haven-1 and future spacecraft programs from early deve
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