Senior Structures Engineer, Lunar

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the accountable owner (Responsible Engineer) for end-to-end lunar engineering projects such as habitation modules, airlocks, nodes, and pallets.
• Work with lunar subject matter experts and systems architects to bring lunar concepts to reality that mesh with Vast’s larger lunar ecosystem and NASA’s Moon Base architecture.
• Own the design and CAD (NX or equivalent) development of primary and secondary structures for lunar ecosystem.
• Develop understanding of static and dynamic loads, vibrations, thermal, and other environmental considerations unique to the lunar surface to drive design decisions.
• Define structural requirements, design loads, and safety margins for a human-rated pressurized structure operating in the lunar environment.
• Perform mechanical design and analysis, develop manufacturing drawings, following hardware through the entire process from concept to build.
• Lead trades and own interfaces with subsystems, including pressure vessel architecture, hatch/seal mechanisms, and material selection for lunar exposure conditions.
• Work with fabricators and technicians to improve designs, develop processes, and resolve issues.
• Define and execute test and verification plans, including structural, pressure, and hatch/seal performance testing.
• Support hardware bring-up, checkout, and anomaly resolution during build and test.
• Represent the subsystem at design reviews, coordinating with Life Support (ECLSS), Thermal, Power, and Avionics teams on interface requirements.
• Help establish design standards and practices for the Lunar program as its first structures hire.
• Minimum Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, Physics, Mathematics or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in structural design of aerospace pressurized or human-rated hardware, with direct ownership from design through hardware delivery.
• 5+ years of experience with CAD and FEA software packages (NX or equivalent) and experience with GD&T implementation and analysis (ASME Y14.5).
• Demonstrated experience owning a structural hardware item end-to-end (design, build, and test), not solely in an analysis capacity.