{"schemaVersion":"jobsearcher.job.v1","id":"1ba2b7361f9b58e4ca794e2f","url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/1ba2b7361f9b58e4ca794e2f","canonicalUrl":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/1ba2b7361f9b58e4ca794e2f","title":"Solar Array Engineer, Mechanical","description":"Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and low-cost approach. Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station 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. 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 in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules. Additionally, the company recently announced Vast Satellite, a high-power satellite product line leveraging its space station components and the heritage of Haven Demo.\n\nHeadquartered in Long Beach, California, and with more than 1,000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital, Vast has built the facilities required to manufacture and operate America's next space station. The company plans to develop future habitats and systems for the Moon and Mars, dedicated space stations for government partners, and other crewed systems that will unlock the expanding long-term space economy.\n\nVast is looking for a Solar Array Engineer, Mechanical, reporting to the Principal Power Systems Engineer, to support the design, analysis, build, and test of mechanisms for solar array deployment and articulation on human-rated space stations.\n\nThis will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.\n\nResponsibilities:\n\nDesign and analyze mechanisms for solar array deployment, including spring-driven hinges, latches, dampers, and hold-down/release devices\nDesign and analyze mechanisms for solar array articulation, including motorized gimbals, gear trains, bearings, and drive electronics interfaces\nBuild and maintain torque budgets for deployment and articulation mechanisms, including friction, harness resistance, disturbance torques, and margin verification per NASA-STD-5017B\nSelect and specify bearings, lubricants, motors, gearboxes, encoders/resolvers, and other drivetrain components for the space environment\nPerform or support mechanism life analysis — bearing life, lubricant life, wear analysis — and define qualification test programs to demonstrate life margin\nDesign for integration and test — develop deployment test procedures, gravity offload approaches, and workmanship screens\nInterface with structures, thermal, GN&C, and power teams to ensure mechanisms meet system-level requirements (deployed stiffness, pointing accuracy, disturbance torques, power transfer across rotating joints)\nSupport environmental test campaigns (vibration, thermal vacuum, shock, life testing) per SMC-S-016\nPerform or support failure analysis, root cause investigation, and mechanism anomaly resolution\nParticipate in design reviews, FMEA/FMECA, and technical documentation for internal and NASA deliverables\n\nMinimum Qualifications:\n\nBachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or related discipline\n5–10 years of experience designing, building, and testing electromechanical systems — preferably mechanisms for spacecraft, satellites, or robotic systems\nDemonstrated experience with mechanism design fundamentals: bearings, gears, motors, springs, fasteners, and structural load paths\nAbility to build and defend a torque budget or force budget for a mechanism from first principles\nExperience with environmental testing of mechanical hardware (vibration, thermal cycling, life testing)\nHands-on experience — you have built, assembled, or integrated the hardware you designed\n\nPreferred Skills & Experience:\n\nExperience with spring-driven deployable mechanisms — hinges, latches, dampers, hold-down/release devices. Understanding of deployment torque margin verification and ground test challenges (gravity offload, thermal effects on torque budget)\nExperience with motorized mechanisms — gimbals, solar array drive assemblies (SADAs), antenna positioners, or robotic actuators. Familiarity with BLDC motors, stepper motors, gearbox types (planetary, harmonic drive, cycloidal), and anti-backlash techniques\nKnowledge of tribology for the space environment — solid film lubricants (MoS₂, WS₂), space-rated greases (Braycote, Pennzane), lubricant life analysis, and the challenges of ground testing vs. on-orbit performance\nFamiliarity with NASA-STD-5017B (mechanism design and analysis) including torque margin requirements and life testing philosophy\nExperience with bearing design for space mechanisms — angular contact bearing configurations, preload methods, thermal effects on preload, and lubrication-limited life analysis\nUnderstanding of control and feedback architecture for pointing mechanisms — encoders, resolvers, motor-side vs. load-side feedback, backlash compensation\nFamiliarity with FBD construction and deployment dynamics — conservation of angular momentum, spacecraft disturbance torques during deployment, and ACS interaction\nFamiliarity with SMC-S-016 or GEVS environmental test requirements\nCAD experience in NX or similar (Teamcenter experience is a plus)\nExperience with analysis tools — hand calculations, MATLAB/Python for mechanism dynamics, FEA for structural assessment of mechanism components\n\nAdditional Requirements:\n\nAbility to travel up to 50% of the time\nWillingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones\nAbility to lift up to 25lbs unassisted\nSpecific certifications, as appropriate\n\nWe calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.\n\nCOMPENSATION AND BENEFITS\n\nBase 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.\n\nU.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS\n\nThe 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.\n\nEQUAL OPPORTUNITY\n\nVast 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.","company":"Vast","rawCompany":"vast","city":"Long Beach","state":"CA","isRemote":false,"isActive":false,"createdAt":"2026-09-24T07:22:36.439Z","occupations":[{"code":"17-2141.00","title":"Mechanical Engineers","slug":"mechanical-engineers"},{"code":"17-2011.00","title":"Aerospace Engineers","slug":"aerospace-engineers"},{"code":"17-2199.00","title":"Engineers, All Other","slug":"engineers-all-other"}],"industries":[{"code":"927110","title":"Space Research and Technology","slug":"space-research-and-technology"},{"code":"541715","title":"Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)","slug":"research-and-development-in-the-physical-engineering-and-life-sciences-except-nanotechnology-and-biotechnology"},{"code":"336414","title":"Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing","slug":"guided-missile-and-space-vehicle-manufacturing"}],"jobPosting":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Solar Array Engineer, Mechanical","description":"Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and low-cost approach. Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station 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. 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 in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules. Additionally, the company recently announced Vast Satellite, a high-power satellite product line leveraging its space station components and the heritage of Haven Demo.\n\nHeadquartered in Long Beach, California, and with more than 1,000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital, Vast has built the facilities required to manufacture and operate America's next space station. The company plans to develop future habitats and systems for the Moon and Mars, dedicated space stations for government partners, and other crewed systems that will unlock the expanding long-term space economy.\n\nVast is looking for a Solar Array Engineer, Mechanical, reporting to the Principal Power Systems Engineer, to support the design, analysis, build, and test of mechanisms for solar array deployment and articulation on human-rated space stations.\n\nThis will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.\n\nResponsibilities:\n\nDesign and analyze mechanisms for solar array deployment, including spring-driven hinges, latches, dampers, and hold-down/release devices\nDesign and analyze mechanisms for solar array articulation, including motorized gimbals, gear trains, bearings, and drive electronics interfaces\nBuild and maintain torque budgets for deployment and articulation mechanisms, including friction, harness resistance, disturbance torques, and margin verification per NASA-STD-5017B\nSelect and specify bearings, lubricants, motors, gearboxes, encoders/resolvers, and other drivetrain components for the space environment\nPerform or support mechanism life analysis — bearing life, lubricant life, wear analysis — and define qualification test programs to demonstrate life margin\nDesign for integration and test — develop deployment test procedures, gravity offload approaches, and workmanship screens\nInterface with structures, thermal, GN&C, and power teams to ensure mechanisms meet system-level requirements (deployed stiffness, pointing accuracy, disturbance torques, power transfer across rotating joints)\nSupport environmental test campaigns (vibration, thermal vacuum, shock, life testing) per SMC-S-016\nPerform or support failure analysis, root cause investigation, and mechanism anomaly resolution\nParticipate in design reviews, FMEA/FMECA, and technical documentation for internal and NASA deliverables\n\nMinimum Qualifications:\n\nBachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or related discipline\n5–10 years of experience designing, building, and testing electromechanical systems — preferably mechanisms for spacecraft, satellites, or robotic systems\nDemonstrated experience with mechanism design fundamentals: bearings, gears, motors, springs, fasteners, and structural load paths\nAbility to build and defend a torque budget or force budget for a mechanism from first principles\nExperience with environmental testing of mechanical hardware (vibration, thermal cycling, life testing)\nHands-on experience — you have built, assembled, or integrated the hardware you designed\n\nPreferred Skills & Experience:\n\nExperience with spring-driven deployable mechanisms — hinges, latches, dampers, hold-down/release devices. Understanding of deployment torque margin verification and ground test challenges (gravity offload, thermal effects on torque budget)\nExperience with motorized mechanisms — gimbals, solar array drive assemblies (SADAs), antenna positioners, or robotic actuators. Familiarity with BLDC motors, stepper motors, gearbox types (planetary, harmonic drive, cycloidal), and anti-backlash techniques\nKnowledge of tribology for the space environment — solid film lubricants (MoS₂, WS₂), space-rated greases (Braycote, Pennzane), lubricant life analysis, and the challenges of ground testing vs. on-orbit performance\nFamiliarity with NASA-STD-5017B (mechanism design and analysis) including torque margin requirements and life testing philosophy\nExperience with bearing design for space mechanisms — angular contact bearing configurations, preload methods, thermal effects on preload, and lubrication-limited life analysis\nUnderstanding of control and feedback architecture for pointing mechanisms — encoders, resolvers, motor-side vs. load-side feedback, backlash compensation\nFamiliarity with FBD construction and deployment dynamics — conservation of angular momentum, spacecraft disturbance torques during deployment, and ACS interaction\nFamiliarity with SMC-S-016 or GEVS environmental test requirements\nCAD experience in NX or similar (Teamcenter experience is a plus)\nExperience with analysis tools — hand calculations, MATLAB/Python for mechanism dynamics, FEA for structural assessment of mechanism components\n\nAdditional Requirements:\n\nAbility to travel up to 50% of the time\nWillingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones\nAbility to lift up to 25lbs unassisted\nSpecific certifications, as appropriate\n\nWe calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.\n\nCOMPENSATION AND BENEFITS\n\nBase 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.\n\nU.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS\n\nThe 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.\n\nEQUAL OPPORTUNITY\n\nVast 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.","datePosted":"2026-09-24T07:22:36.439Z","dateModified":"2026-09-24T07:22:36.439Z","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Vast","sameAs":"https://jobsearcher.com"},"jobLocation":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Long Beach","addressRegion":"CA","addressCountry":"US"}},"identifier":{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"JobSearcher","value":"1ba2b7361f9b58e4ca794e2f"},"url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/1ba2b7361f9b58e4ca794e2f"}}