Senior Polymer Chemist

Vast is looking for a Senior Polymer Chemist, reporting to the Non-Metallic Materials & Processes Lead, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. 

This role supports toxicity and contamination control for Haven-1, ensuring a safe and healthy environment for crew members in orbit. 

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

Responsibilities: 

• Conduct research on advanced polymer materials-including composites, coatings, and elastomers- with a focus on chemical stability, thermal decomposition, and outgassing/off-gassing behavior under aerospace-relevant conditions
• Operate and maintain analytical instrumentation, including SIFT-MS, TGA, FTIR, and TGA-FTIR
• Calibrate, validate, and optimize performance of analytical instruments; ensure high reliability and data integrity
• Troubleshoot and resolve equipment issues; liaise with vendors, technical support, stakeholders as needed
• Develop, refine, and validate methods for evolved gas analysis (EGA) and real-time volatile detection, including off-gas testing protocols using SIFT-MS
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including materials, thermal, and systems engineers, to integrate findings into broader design and testing efforts
• Ensure compliance with internal quality standards, industry best practices, and regulatory requirements related to materials and chemical analysis

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Polymer Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, or a related field
• 3+ years of industrial or research experience in polymer characterization and analytical method development
• Hands-on experience operating and maintaining TGA, FTIR, GC-MS, HPLC-MS, and SIFT-MS or CIMS instrumentation
• Strong foundation in thermal analysis and gas-phase chemical detection

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Masters degree or PhD in Polymer Chemistry or Analytical Chemistry preferred 
• Expertise in SIFT-MS, TGA-FTIR, or TGA-MS data acquisition, method development, and result interpretation
• Advanced knowledge of polymer degradation mechanisms and desorption processes
• Experience validating analytical protocols and conducting method development for off-gassing and thermal stability testing
• Familiarity with NASA-STD-6001B for flammability, off-gassing, and material selection of non-metallic materials
• Familiarity with MAPTIS for material screening, evaluation, and compliance
• Strong data analysis skills, including statistical modeling and use of Design of Experiments (DoE)
• Exceptional problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Proven ability to communicate complex technical findings clearly, both verbally and in writing
• Experience in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment, ideally in aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated industries
• Experience with identifying and investigating chemical ionization mechanisms (e.g., proton/electron transfer, adduct formation, dissociative electron transfer, hydride association) relevant to polymer off-gassing and degradation

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time
• Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted
• Specific certifications, as appropriate