Software Engineer

• Design, build, and maintain scalable backend services, tools, and pipelines supporting mission-critical security systems.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to design and implement secure, high-performance services and APIs.
• Develop and maintain backend infrastructure for authentication, authorization, and secure data handling.
• Establish and promote best practices for backend architecture, security, and code quality at scale.
• Build systems that are reliable, observable, and capable of supporting a rapidly growing codebase and engineering team.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
• 6+ years of backend software engineering experience, with exposure to security-focused systems (e.g., IAM, API security, certificate management).
• Strong experience building and operating backend services in cloud environments.
• Proficiency in at least one modern programming language (Python, Go, Rust, C++, etc.).
• Solid understanding of distributed systems, API design, and backend architecture.
• Experience working in Linux environments, including command line and scripting.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Experience solving ambiguous, complex backend problems in fast-paced environments.
• Familiarity with DevOps practices and tools (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Experience designing and scaling APIs and microservices.
• Background in one or more security domains (e.g., cryptography, network security, infrastructure security).
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across teams.
• Ownership mindset with a bias toward action and continuous improvement.

Additional Requirements:

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

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.