Software Engineer I, Mission Software
TLDR
Design and implement data-intensive, full-stack web and backend systems for mission software powering space stations.
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.
Vast is looking for a Software Engineer, Mission Software, reporting to the Manager, Mission Software, 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.
Responsibilities:
- Work with the team to design and implement web applications using modern frontends and application servers, that consume apis and micro-services in a heterogeneous environment.
- Work with the team to design and implement backends including data modeling, apis, and supporting pipelines.
- Rapidly iterate on tooling and design new applications as the company grows.
- Influence and adopt software practices and patterns that will scale to what will eventually become a very large codebase and team.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, math, or other engineering discipline.
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- 1+ years of academic or internship experience in software development.
- Experience building, shipping, and supporting complex, data-intensive full-stack software applications.
- Experience working on ambiguous problems.
- Containerization experience (Docker and Kubernetes preferred).
- Experience working with multiple programming languages.
- Experience working with time series data and databases.
- Experience with API design.
- Experience with one or more of the following platforms, frameworks, and languages:
- React, Next.js, Vue or similar
- GraphQL, REST, RPC
- Node.js
- OAuth
- Terraform, Helm
- SQL
- Monitoring, Observability, Instrumentation
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.
U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS
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 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 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.
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.
Benefits
Equity Compensation
company equity
Subsidized lunch
lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees
Health Insurance
medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents
401(k) retirement plan access
access to a 401(k) retirement plan
Paid Parental Leave
Paid Time Off
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
Wellness Stipend
personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health
Vast builds next-generation space stations designed to sustain a continuous human presence in space for the U.S. and its allies. By facilitating advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, we're unlocking the potential of a new space economy.
- Founded
- Founded 2021
- Employees
- 500+ employees
- Industry
- defense & space
- Total raised
- $650M raised
- Last funding
- Raised March 2026