Senior Mission Manager

<div class="content-intro"><p>At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. Vast is developing next-generation space stations 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. Using an incremental, hardware-rich and low-cost approach, Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station. 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, followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.</p></div><p>Vast is looking for a <strong>Senior Mission Manager</strong>, reporting to the<strong> Vice President of Mission Management, </strong>to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. </p>
<p>The Senior Mission Manager is fully responsible for end-to-end mission success for highly complex, crewed missions. This role serves as the primary customer interface and internal mission lead from contract award through on-orbit execution and mission closeout.</p>
<p>This will be a <strong>full-time</strong>, <strong>exempt</strong> position located in our <strong>Long Beach</strong> location. </p>
<p><strong>Responsibilities: </strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Personally responsible for end-to-end mission success (contract award through on-orbit operations and return where applicable)</li>
<li>Serve as primary point of contact for customers</li>
<li>Own and negotiate ICDs defining all interface requirements between:</li>
<ul>
<li>Customer hardware and Haven space stations</li>
<li>Crew transport vehicles</li>
<li>Launch providers and ground systems</li>
</ul>
<li>Lead integration of:</li>
<ul>
<li>All tasks necessary to successfully execute a mission including contract deliverables to/from customers, tracking hardware/software readiness, ground and crew operator readiness, and overall execution of Vast Flight Readiness</li>
<li>Pressurized payloads and cargo lifecycle</li>
</ul>
<li>Drive risk management, issue resolution, and cross-functional execution</li>
<li>Lead integrated master schedule development tied to contractual milestones</li>
<li>Coordinate with mission operations, engineering, production, and leadership teams</li>
<li>Support Business Development with pre-sales engineering, customer meetings, and contract negotiations</li>
<li>Trusted to represent Vast to key external stakeholders and customers</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Minimum Qualifications:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or technical discipline</li>
<li>8+ years of experience in systems engineering, technical program management, or customer-facing mission execution roles</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Preferred Skills & Experience:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Direct experience with human spaceflight missions (ISS, free flyer, or commercial crew)</li>
<li>Familiarity with NASA human spaceflight policies and procedures</li>
<li>Working knowledge of crew vehicle systems</li>
<li>Experience leading launch integration campaigns</li>
<li>ICD negotiation with external stakeholders</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Additional Requirements:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Ability to travel up to 20% of the time</li>
<li>Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones</li>
</ul><div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="title">Pay Range: California</div><div class="pay-range"><span>$151,000</span><span class="divider">—</span><span>$215,000 USD</span></div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion"><p style="line-height: 1;"><strong>COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS<br></strong><br>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.</p>
<p style="line-height: 1;"><strong><br>U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS<br><br></strong>The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-22/section-120.62">22 C.F.R. § 120.62</a> or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.<br><br></p>
<p style="line-height: 1;"><strong>EQUAL OPPORTUNITY</strong><br><br>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.</p></div>