Senior Harness Design Engineer

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 inLong 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 Harness Design Engineer, reporting to the Senior Manager, Harness Design to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and manufacturing of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Responsibilities

• Develop the electro-mechanical design of flight wire harnesses for the Haven space station.
• Develop the electro-mechanical design of development and test harnesses to support qualification testing efforts.
• Design and analyze complex electrical architectures and wire harness systems, including development of detailed wiring diagrams, connector layouts, and system integration documentation for multi-disciplinary spacecraft/vehicle electrical systems.
• Evaluate and implement power distribution and data communication strategies, ensuring proper signal integrity across mixed power/data pathways and selecting appropriate communication protocols ( Ethernet, RS-422, USB, etc.) for system requirements.
• Develop system logic and control architectures, creating interface control documents (ICDs) and performing electrical analysis to ensure compatibility between subsystems, including power budgeting, load analysis, and signal routing optimization
• Meet with multidisciplinary stakeholders to gather harness design objectives and requirements.
• Develop harness design and routing solutions with a 3D NX CAD environment.
• Provide great flight wire harness and vehicle/system level documentation.
• Perform analysis and physical testing of harnessing with respect to thermal, loads, vibration, and shock to ensure full qualification for flight.
• Document and communicate the design, analysis, and testing results thoroughly and clearly through the use of design reviews.
• Interface with harness production and integration teams to ensure final harness designs can be produced and installed on schedule in accordance with overall project goals.
• Perform R&D investigations and trade studies to push wire harness design to new boundaries in terms of capabilities, mass savings, cost savings.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or other engineering discipline.
• 2+ years of experience in design focused roles.
• 2+ years of experience with wire harness 3D design, wiring diagrams, and formboard creation.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience designing harnesses to IPC/WHMA-A-620, IPC/WHMA-A-620-S, and NASA-STD-8739.4.
• Strong team working skills with a proven ability to effectively interact and collaborate with other engineering disciplines and excellent attention to detail.
• Experience with Siemens NX and Teamcenter.
• Wire harness component selection and qualification experience.
• General wire harness analysis, testing, and qualification experience.
• 2+ years of experience with harness design and manufacturing documentation.
• Capability to solve complex design problems within tight schedules and minimal supervision.
• Passion for advancing the commercial space industry and space exploration, with a strong desire to revolutionize wire harness design.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding startup atmosphere.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Strong sense of personal accountability and drive to succeed.

Additional Requirements

• Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted

Pay Range: California

$135,000 - $190,000 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 subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Vast 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.