Senior System Architect, Lunar

Role details

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. Headquartered 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. Vast is looking for a Senior System Architect, Lunar , reporting to the Senior Vice President, Lunar Programs, to support the development of the systems that will be required for Vast’s Lunar ecosystem. This will be a full-time , exempt position located in our Long Beach location. Responsibilities: Define, develop, and maintain the end-to-end system architecture for Vast's Lunar ecosystem, spanning surface habitats, power and energy, communications/PNT, logistics, and crew systems Translate NASA Moon Base architecture, mission needs, and human-rating requirements into Vast system requirements, concepts of operations, and interface control documents Perform architecture trade studies across mission design, transportation and lander compatibility, surface element sizing, autonomy, and in-situ resource utilization to inform program decisions Adapt and extend proven Haven Demo, Haven-1, Haven Station, and Vast Satellite technologies, subsystems, and operational knowledge to the lunar environment Collaborate daily with internal engineering teams — structures, life support (ECLSS), avionics and power, software, thermal, and human factors to decompose the architecture into executable subsystem designs and to flow capabilities and best practices up to the overall architecture Develop and manage system budgets (mass, power, data, thermal, consumables) Identify architecture-level risks, drive mitigation strategies, and support program milestone reviews Represent Vast's lunar architecture with external partners, suppliers, and customers, and support business development and proposal efforts as needed Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field 6+ years of experience in design ownership, systems integration, test engineering, of which at least 1+ years are systems engineering focused Experience owning system-level architecture, requirements, and interfaces across the full lifecycle, from concept development through design reviews Strong working knowledge of spacecraft subsystems and their interactions (power, thermal, life support, avionics, communications, structures) Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical trades clearly to executives, customers, and engineers Preferred Skills & Experience: Strong systems-level intuition and experience in technical leadership roles on spacecraft, launch vehicles, or other mission- or safety-critical systems Experience working on lunar engineering programs Comprehensive understanding of one or more core engineering disciplines (Structures, Thermal, Avionics, Power, Flight Software, etc.) Demonstrated experience working with NASA or other government customers on technical requirements, deliverables, and reviews Hands-on experience with requirements and/or project management tools Experience leading design reviews (PDR, CDR) and verification campaigns Familiarity with NASA's Moon Base program, Artemis architecture, human-rating standards, and/or commercial partnership models Experience with crewed systems, habitats, or life support in extreme environments Experience in a fast-paced, hardware-rich startup environment with rapid design-build-test cycles Experience standing up new programs or teams from the ground up Additional Requirements: Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones Ability to travel up to 20% of the time to support customer meetings Pay Range: California $147,600 - $249,000 USD We calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply. 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 subs