Senior Manager, Fluid Systems Design

The role

The Senior Manager of Fluid Systems Design will support the development of systems required for the design and build of human-rated space stations. This person will lead a design team translating architecture choices for propulsion, TCS and ECLSS systems into vehicle packaging.

What you will do

• Lead design team translating architecture choices for propulsion, TCS and ECLSS systems into vehicle packaging for future Haven modules.
• Own component-level design practices for propulsion, TCS and ECLSS.
• Develop process tools to streamline design activities.
• Lead team of designers across the fluid systems engineering team.
• Interface with structures design team on overall vehicle integration.
• Collaborate with the fluid system analysis team on structural, fracture, and dynamics requirements.
• Partner with the fluid system test team to design ground support equipment and test stands.
• Build and mentor a team of design engineers.
• Drive communication and collaboration between fluid systems design, structures, and operations.
• Support risk management, CDR/dCDR action item tracking, and lessons-learned capture.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or other technical discipline.
• 2+ years of hands-on engineering experience followed by 2-5 years of experience in systems engineering, technical project management, or customer facing program roles in aerospace.
• 8+ years of experience in system design, with demonstrated component-level design authority on flight hardware.
• 2+ years of experience overseeing / managing a technical engineering team.
• Expertise in fluid system design including pressure vessels, tubing routings, mechanical fluid seals, control valves, fans, filters and/or ducting systems.
• Experience with high-pressure fluid systems including fracture criticality.
• Familiarity with P&IDs, feed system ConOps, and fill and drain considerations for vehicle integration.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multi-disciplinary engineering teams and drive technical decisions to closure.
• Experience supporting design reviews (CDR, PDR) and managing associated action items and risk tracking.
• Strong cross-functional communication skills comfortable working across structures, GNC, avionics, software, and manufacturing.

Nice to have

• Experience building in-house design team capability.
• Background in mission operations, covering propulsion, thermal or ECLSS systems.
• Prior work with component and HITL test environments.
• Startup or fast-paced development environment experience.
• Familiarity with electric propulsion system interfaces (PPU, mass flow control).
• Experience with tubing assembly and design for manufacturing / design for assembly.
• Background in fracture mechanics or composite overwrap pressure vessel certification.

Benefits

• company equity
• 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
• snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge
• lunch subsidized

About the company

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, the company has more than 1,000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital.