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# Director, Fluid Systems Analysis

- **Company:** Vast, Inc
- **Location:** Long Beach, CA, United States
- **Experience:** Experienced
- **Salary:** $203,360.0 - $232,800.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Computational Fluid Dynamics, Hardware Design, Model Validation
- **Published:** September 4, 2026
- **Apply:** https://startup.jobs/director-fluid-systems-analysis-vast-5953197

## About the Role

* B.S. degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related Engineering field
 * 8+ years of relevant aerospace design and analysis experience
 * 2+ years of experience overseeing / managing a technical engineering or analysis team
 * Strong expertise in structural analysis, including FEA modeling, stress analysis, and load case development
 * Experience with thermo fluid analysis tools (CFD, 1-D system modeling, etc.)
 * Knowledge of mechanical design, manufacturing processes, and design-for-manufacturability principles, * M.S. or higher in Aerospace, Mechanical, or related engineering
 * Experience in human spaceflight hardware design and analysis
 * Expertise in multiphase fluid dynamics, propellant management, and slosh modeling under low-gravity conditions
 * Experience with thermo-mechanical fatigue, fracture analysis, and spectrum loading fatigue analysis
 * Hands-on experience with high-pressure gas systems, transient fluid dynamics and heat exchangers
 * 5+ years of experience with liquid or gas rocket engine combustion devices, including RCS design
 * Track record of leading multidisciplinary teams linking analysis predictions with test and qualification data to accelerate hardware development and certification

## Description

* Manage and lead a team of Propulsion and Thermal analysts, including hiring, mentoring, and technical development
 * Set standards for analysis methods, documentation, and best practices in a fast-paced, evolving environment
 * Expand company capabilities in analysis by validating and establishing methods and practices across structural, fluid, and thermal domains
 * Create and maintain FEA models of propulsion components to support design and certification
 * Define and review critical loads and load cases in collaboration with GNC, fluids analysis, dynamics/loads engineers and design teams
 * Mentor design and analysis engineers in analysis methods and validation via testing to review/approve component drawings with feedback
 * Partner with test engineering to plan and execute structural and dynamic tests, and perform associated analyses
 * Oversee multiphase propellant feed system and microgravity fluid behavior modeling, including vaporization, condensation, propellant acquisition and slosh dynamics
 * Guide high-pressure gas system analysis, transient flow behavior (e.g., water hammer, adiabatic compression), and thruster plume impingement studies
 * Support development and validation of propulsion fluid systems using best practices
 * Integrate simulation results with ground and flight test data to validate models and refine designs
 * Partner closely with design, manufacturing, propulsion, thermal, and GN&C teams to ensure analysis informs critical decisions
 * Present technical findings at design reviews and contribute to NASA certification processes
 * Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions when issues arise


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