Solar Array Test Engineer
Vast is hiring a Solar Array Test Engineer in Long Beach to own qualification and environmental/functional testing (TVAC, vibration, deployment, IV/EL characterization) of solar array hardware for its commercial space stations. Core skills include MATLAB/Python data analysis, DAQ instrumentation, and aerospace test standards like AIAA S-111 and SMC-S-016.
- Compensation
- $112.3K–$230.5K / yr
- Location
- Long Beach, California, United States
- Work setup
- Not specified
- Seniority
- Not specified
- Employment
- Full time
- Experience
- 5+ years
- Category
- Qa
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- Bachelor of Science in mechanical, aerospace, electrical, materials engineering, physics, or related discipline
- 5+ years of hardware testing experience for satellites, spacecraft, or high-reliability aerospace systems
- Familiarity with data acquisition systems, instrumentation (thermocouples, strain gauges, accelerometers, LVDTs), and test automation
- Hands-on experience planning and executing environmental testing (thermal vacuum, vibration, shock, or acoustic) on flight or qualification hardware
- Demonstrated experience authoring test plans, procedures, and test reports
- Strong organizational skills managing multiple parallel test campaigns with meticulous documentation
- Working knowledge of photovoltaic device physics and space-environment degradation mechanisms
- Proficiency with data analysis and visualization tools such as MATLAB, Python, or equivalent
- Effective communicator comfortable in a hands-on, hardware-rich environment across engineering disciplines and technician teams
Nice to have
- 8+ years of test engineering for satellite or spacecraft programs with direct solar array or deployable structure test experience
- Experience executing test campaigns per SMC-S-016, AIAA S-112, AIAA S-111, GEVS, or MIL-STD-1540
- Experience with solar cell/PV module electrical characterization (flash testing, IV curve analysis, EL inspection)
- Direct experience with solar cell radiation degradation testing (proton/electron irradiation) and EOL performance prediction
- Experience with AM0 solar simulator calibration
- Experience qualifying a non-space-heritage or COTS component/material for spaceflight use
- Experience developing custom test fixturing and GSE, including fabrication with machinists and technicians
- Working knowledge of solar array design, construction, and failure modes
- Experience at a vertically integrated satellite company or fast-paced aerospace startup with high hardware touch-time
- Design or modeling experience with NX, Teamcenter, or similar CAD/PLM tools
Full 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 Solar Array Test Engineer. The team has one opening available at L2, Senior, or Staff level. This role will be reporting to the Principal Power Systems Engineer, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.
Responsibilities:
- Own the qualification program for non-space-heritage (terrestrial/COTS) photovoltaic cell technologies for space use
- Develop, author, and maintain test plans, procedures, and reports for solar array hardware at the coupon, panel, wing, and system levels
- Plan and execute test campaigns including thermal vacuum (TVAC), thermal cycling, vibration (sine, random), shock, acoustic, static load, deployment, and life-cycle testing
- Plan and execute functional testing of solar array hardware, including flash testing, electroluminescence (EL) imaging, isolation resistance, and IV curve characterization
- Define test success criteria, instrumentation requirements, data acquisition configurations, and test-as-you-fly rationale for all solar array verification activities
- Coordinate and oversee testing at both internal facilities and external test labs