Senior Manager, Propulsion Analysis

Vast is looking for a Senior Manager, Propulsion and Fluids Analysis, reporting to the VP of Propulsion, 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. 

Key Responsibilities 

Team Leadership

• Manage and lead a team of Propulsion and Thermal analysts, including hiring, mentoring, and technical development.
• Set standards for analysis methods, documentation, and best practices in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Expand company capabilities in analysis by validating and establishing methods and practices across structural, fluid, and thermal domains.
  
  

Structural Analysis

• Create and maintain FEA models of propulsion components to support design and certification.
• Define and review critical loads and load cases in collaboration with GNC, fluids analysis, dynamics/loads engineers and design teams.
• Mentor design and analysis engineers in analysis methods and validation via testing to review/approve component drawings with feedback.
• Partner with test engineering to plan and execute structural and dynamic tests, and perform associated analyses.
  
  

Fluids & Thermal Analysis

• Oversee multiphase propellant feed system and microgravity fluid behavior modeling, including vaporization, condensation, propellant acquisition and slosh dynamics.
• Guide high-pressure gas system analysis, transient flow behavior (e.g., water hammer, adiabatic compression), and thruster plume impingement studies.
• Support development and validation of propulsion fluid systems using best practices 
• Integrate simulation results with ground and flight test data to validate models and refine designs.
  
  

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with design, manufacturing, propulsion, thermal, and GN&C teams to ensure analysis informs critical decisions.
• Present technical findings at design reviews and contribute to NASA certification processes.
• Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions when issues arise.

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related Engineering field.
• 8+ years of relevant aerospace design and analysis experience.
• 2+ years of experience overseeing / managing a technical engineering or analysis team.
• Strong expertise in structural analysis, including FEA modeling, stress analysis, and load case development.
• Experience with thermo fluid analysis tools (CFD, 1-D system modeling, etc.)
• Knowledge of mechanical design, manufacturing processes, and design-for-manufacturability principles.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. or higher in Aerospace, Mechanical, or related Engineering.
• Experience in human spaceflight hardware design and analysis.
• Expertise in multiphase fluid dynamics, propellant management, and slosh modeling under low-gravity conditions.
• Experience with thermo-mechanical fatigue, fracture analysis, and spectrum loading fatigue analysis.
• Hands-on experience with high-pressure gas systems, transient fluid dynamics and heat exchangers.
• 5+ years of experience with liquid or gas  rocket engine combustion devices, including RCS design.
• Track record of leading multidisciplinary teams linking analysis predictions with test and qualification data to accelerate hardware development and certification.