Senior Manager, Spacecraft Systems

Employer description

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 Manager, Spacecraft Operations  reporting to the VP of Mission Operations, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of human-rated space stations.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location. 

You will be responsible for the planning and successful execution of Vast’s crewed and uncrewed spacecraft missions. You will lead the team of mission operations engineers responsible for all phases of mission operations, from early mission/vehicle design and concept of operations through initial activation and checkout, on-orbit operations including payloads and science, anomaly resolution, and decommissioning/deorbit at end of life. In addition to your leadership and administrative responsibilities, you will support 24/7 console operations.

You will work cross-functionally with vehicle, payload, mission Operations, and ground software engineers starting with the earliest spacecraft architecture trades to ensure that operational needs are designed into the spacecraft and ground systems. In this role you will set the technical standard for safe, reliable, and efficient operations, while building the processes, people, and tools that scale Vast’s mission cadence.

Responsibilities: 

• Own operational readiness for multiple crewed and uncrewed missions, ensuring safe and successful outcomes across commissioning, routine operations, anomaly response, and deorbit
• Work with Mission Management to turn customer and internal requirements into a robust Concept of Operations and detailed mission timelines that balance payload, vehicle, and program needs
• Lead the Haven mission operations team:  ensure roles, responsibilities, interfaces, and operating rhythms, enable fast decisions and crisp execution
• Grow the mission operations team to support Haven-1 and Haven Station, and hire, mentor, and coach Mission Operations Engineers, providing technical guidance, career development, and performance management
• Lead cross-disciplinary mission operations development, including flight rules, procedures, mission timelines, and go/no-go criteria
• Identify and prioritize improvements to mission operations software and mission systems, and work with ground software and mission systems engineers to deliver scalable upgrades
• Achieve and maintain console certification
• Monitor on-orbit spacecraft performance, triage anomalies, and drive resolution through disciplined escalation and root-cause investigation
• Support 24/7 console shifts for commissioning, critical operations, and anomaly response

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, or another engineering discipline, or equivalent experience
• 10+ years operating complex systems in spaceflight, aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability environments
• Experience in human spaceflight mission operations, such as ISS flight control, commercial crew operations, or a comparable crewed program
• Experience as a flight controller or console operator for a crewed or complex uncrewed vehicle
• 3+ years of leadership experience, as a people manager, technical lead, or both, including mentoring and developing engineers
• Experience working across engineering disciplines to resolve operational issues
• Experience briefing senior leadership and customers on complex technical issues, including during anomalies, with clear and decisive recommendations

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Experience building or substantially reshaping an operations team, process, or system in a fast-moving organization
• Experience in spacecraft design, build, test, and integration environments
• Familiarity with the satellite and/or crew vehicle mission lifecycle from early trades through flight
• Experience developing operations products including, but not limited to flight rules and procedures
• Experience with mission operations software, automation, or tooling

Additional Requirements 

• This is an on-site role at Vast’s headquarters in Long Beach, California
• Ability to travel up to 20% of the time
• Support 24/7 console operations, which may include nights, weekends, and holidays, as well as additional support during critical mission milestones
• This position requires access to export-controlled information and technology. Applicants must be a U.S. person as defined by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (22 CFR § 120.62): a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident, or a protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3)
  
  

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.