Environmental Health & Safety Specialist
How this pay compares
This posting states $74k–$145k a year. Open quality engineer jobs in California post a median of $148k a year, the middle half $122k–$166k, across 128 jobs that state their pay, so this one is below the middle half of what they post.
Quality engineers and inspectors in California: pay by town and employer
About the job
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 an Environmental Health & Safety Specialist, reporting to the Environmental Health & Safety Manager, and serves as the primary on-site resource for Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) operations at the Mojave Test Site.
This role is "boots on the ground," actively collaborating with Test Site leadership, engineering teams, and remote EHS team members to implement safety programs, maintain compliance, and support personnel safety.
The technician plays a critical role in daily site operations, ensuring that EHS standards are upheld across all activities, including hazardous operations, facility maintenance, and environmental compliance.
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in ourMojavelocation. ## Responsibilities: - EHS Operations & Compliance: - Collaborate with team members to implement site-specific safety programs (Heat Illness Prevention, Confined Space Entry, Overhead Crane safety, Powered Industrial Trucks, Job Hazard Assessments). - Actively represent the EHS Department and collaborate with all company departments in the implementation and upkeep of EHS standards and policies. - Oversee compliance with regulatory mandates from CAL OSHA, RCRA, EPA, SCAQMD, DOT, DTSC, and CUPA. - Maintain consistent communication with Operations and Facilities Teams about site projects that may impact EHS related planning and permits. - Communication & Coordination: Coordinate drills (Emergency Evacuation, Fire, Snake Bite, High Winds) and communicate hazardous operations status with the Mojave Air and Space Port (MASP). - Inspections and Audits: - Conduct various inspections (e.g., portable fire extinguishers, eye wash/shower stations, emergency lighting/exits, fall protection equipment, lifting straps/slings) and work area audits ensuring review and communication of corrective/preventative actions with area owners. - Waste & Materials Management: - Manage tasks related to the handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste under RCRA LQG regulations. - Manage Large Quantity Generator hazardous waste storage areas, including weekly inspections, proper storage, labeling, drum log, and housekeeping. - Maintain necessary record keeping, including Uniform Hazardous & NON Hazardous Waste Manifests, Bill of Ladings, and hazardous waste profiles. - Segregate and loose pack expired materials based on hazardous characteristics and types of waste. - Order and maintain adequate spill supplies (pads, drums, secondary containment) and safety supplies (PPE, Fall Protection, LOTO, monitoring/testing equipment). - Incident Management & Investigation: Gather real-time data on site hazards and safety metrics.
Perform systematic follow-ups on corrective actions.
Translate on-site observations into actionable insights for the remote EHS team. - EHS Program Development and Technical Support: - Lead the completion of drafting and posting of Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures, updating equipment inventory. - Support in review and approval of Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs) as assigned, ensuring compliance and best practices. - Conduct and/or coordinate specialized employee EH&S training programs (e.g., Crane and Hoist, LOTO, Confined Space Entry). ## Minimum Qualifications - High School Diploma. - 3–5 years of experience overseeing EHS program aspects in an industrial or hazardous environment. - Ability to work in a fast-paced, demanding start-up atmosphere. - Must be able to stoop, bend, crawl, and maneuver in tight spaces. - Ability to lift up to 50 lbs unassisted. - Ability to withstand harsh environmental conditions (8° F to 120° F, high winds, etc.). ## Preferred Skills & Experience - Proven background in understanding, implementing, and formulating health and safety plans and policies. - Hands-on involvement with emergency response teams in incidents involving hazardous and non-hazardous material releases into the air, soil, and water. - Expertise in RCRA, DOT 49 CFR, and HAZWOPER regulations. - Experience in overseeing Hazardous Waste storage and satellite accumulation areas. - Experience in the Aerospace industry is preferred. - Comfortable stopping work or elevating concerns to individuals, teams, &/or supervisors - Proficiency in Google Workspace and MS Office Suite/Windows operating systems and applications. - Comfortable working within a construction or industrial setting, including a fast-paced and demanding start-up atmosphere. ## Additional Requirements - Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones. - Ability to lift up to 50 lbs unassisted. - Must be able to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), including respirators (tight or loose fitting), safety toe shoes, hearing protection, and safety glasses. - Ability to obtain certification for Powered Industrial Trucks and Mobile Elevated Work Platforms. - Ability to travel up to 10% of the time to support EHS functions, attend training or team events and Quarterly meetings at Vast Headquarters in Long Beach. - Ability to lift up to 50 lbs unassisted and work in an outdoor, physically demanding test environment (from freezing conditions to temps up to 120 degrees fahrenheit). ## Pay Range: - Environmental Health & Safety Specialist I: $74,000 - $105,000 - Environmental Health & Safety Specialist II: $102,000 - $145,000 Pay Range: California $74,000 - $145,000 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
From Vast's job posting, checked 7 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.
Selected agencies hiring now
Chipton-RossEngineering and technical staffing agency
Aerospace and defense engineering staffing firm with offices in El Segundo, Long Beach and Playa Del Rey, California, Charleston, Pascagoula and Newport News, placing engineers, designers and technicians on contract and direct hire.
Places: Mechanical, Avionics, Systems & Test, Technicians
Contract Professionals Inc (CPI)Engineering and technical staffing agency
Aerospace and defense staffing firm in Waterford, Michigan, placing engineers, maintenance technicians, mechanics, welders and CNC machinists.
Places: Propulsion, Mechanical, Avionics, RF & Payloads
These agencies and apps pay SpaceJobs.Now a referral fee when someone we introduce is placed or signs up. It costs you nothing and never changes your pay. Employers' own jobs below keep their own order.
Sponsored jobs from job networks, which pay SpaceJobs.Now when you click one.
Free tools for this application: check your resume against this job, answer the application's questions or see every free tool.
New quality and mission assurance jobs in space in California, by email
One email a week with the newest ones, straight from the employers' own careers sites, with the pay each posting states. Free, stop anytime.
About Vast
Developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure.
Pay on its listings: 97.5% of its open jobs state an hourly rate
How it pays: Paid as an employee on Vast's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).
More open jobs at Vast
- Communications Associate$33–$55/hr
- Associate General Counsel
- Manufacturing Engineering, Thermal Control$86,100–$195,552/yr
- Senior Manager, Spacecraft Systems$170,000–$242,000/yr
- Components Engineer$112,340–$230,000/yr
- Deburr Technician$19–$43/hr
More quality and mission assurance jobs in space
- Metrology Engineer$68,000–$80,000/yr
- Sr. Equipment Safety Engineer
- Process Safety Engineer
- Senior Supplier Quality Engineer$117,500–$185,500/yr
- EHS Specialist II - Environmental Compliance$74,000–$112,000/yr
- Program Quality Engineering Asc Mgr - L4$118,000–$219,100/yr
A quality or mission assurance professional?
One profile for every employer here. Space companies and their recruiters ask us for people with a specific degree, clearance, specialty or location: add yours once, and when a job fits, we introduce you, only with your yes. Free.
Vast openings, sent to you weekly
Each week we send the newest postings from Vast's own careers site, along with similar openings at other space employers. It costs nothing and you can stop anytime.