Staff Software Engineer, Mission Software

• Develop new and optimize existing software codebases and systems which will be used to test, command, and monitor the Vast family of spacecraft
• Mentor junior ground software engineers to help build a strong and capable team
• Own the lifecycle of software, including rolling out to operations, managing configurations, maintaining and upgrading, and supporting end-users
• Configure and optimize automated testing and deployment systems
• Maintain and upgrade the ground systems that control our test sites and communicate with our spacecraft at the launch site and on orbit

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or STEM discipline; OR 9+ years of professional experience as a software engineer
• 7+ years experience writing full-stack web applications
• Experience writing and securing REST APIs
• Experience with database design, implementation, and security

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Proficiency using the command line, writing shell scripts, and an understanding of the GNU/Linux operating system
• Experience building applications in the cloud
• Enjoys end-user facing roles for support and interfacing with cross-functional teams
• Ability to work quickly and accurately in fast-paced environment during critical launch and mission operations
• Excellent communicator, both written and verbal
• Familiarity with Git
• Collaborative mindset
• Problem solver with a bias for action

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: 100% 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.

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.