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# Manager, Fluid Systems Design

- **Company:** Vast, Inc
- **Location:** Long Beach, CA, United States
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $164,000.0 - $232,800.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Systems Engineering, Information Systems, Systems Analysis, Integrated Development Environments, Systems Development Life Cycle, System Testing
- **Published:** October 7, 2026
- **Apply:** https://startup.jobs/senior-manager-fluid-systems-design-vast-10304673

## About the Role

* Bachelor's degree in engineering, science, or other technical discipline.
 * 2+ years of hands-on engineering experience followed by 2-5 years of experience in systems engineering, technical project management, or customer facing program roles in aerospace.
 * 8+ years of experience in system design, with demonstrated component-level design authority on flight hardware, preferably with propulsion, thermal or ECLSS systems.
 * 2+ years of experience overseeing / managing a technical engineering team.
 * Expertise in fluid system design including pressure vessels, tubing routings, mechanical fluid seals, control valves, fans, filters and/or ducting systems.
 * Experience with high-pressure fluid systems including fracture criticality.
 * Familiarity with P&IDs, feed system ConOps, and fill and drain considerations for vehicle integration.
 * Demonstrated ability to lead multi-disciplinary engineering teams and drive technical decisions to closure.
 * Experience supporting design reviews (CDR, PDR) and managing associated action items and risk tracking.
 * Strong cross-functional communication skills comfortable working across structures, GNC, avionics, software, and manufacturing.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

 * Experience building in-house design team capability.
 * Background in mission operations, covering propulsion, thermal or ECLSS systems.
 * Prior work with component and HITL test environments.
 * Startup or fast-paced development environment experience.
 * Familiarity with electric propulsion system interfaces (PPU, mass flow control).
 * Experience with tubing assembly and design for manufacturing / design for assembly.
 * Background in fracture mechanics or composite overwrap pressure vessel certification.

## Description

* Lead design team translating architecture choices for propulsion, TCS and ECLSS systems into vehicle packaging for future Haven modules.
 * Own component-level design practices for propulsion, TCS and ECLSS.
 * Develop process tools to streamline design activities, enabling component responsible engineers to be force multipliers for the design team.
 * Lead team of designers across the fluid systems engineering team, flexing resources as needed, and building cross-system experience in the team.
 * Interface with structures design team on overall vehicle integration, establishing and enforcing standard design and modeling practices.
 * Collaborate with the fluid system analysis team on structural, fracture, and dynamics requirements for design validation.
 * Partner with the fluid system test team to design ground support equipment and test stands needed for development, qualification and acceptance testing.
 * Build and mentor a team of design engineers, establishing clear ownership and accountability for world-class design work.
 * Drive communication and collaboration between fluid systems design, structures, and operations, resolving manufacturing and integration challenges.
 * Support risk management, CDR/dCDR action item tracking, and lessons-learned capture from prior missions.
 * Partner with information systems team on design tool development and deployment.
 * Manage technical interfaces with external partners and government agencies on propulsion system requirements and supplier qualification.
 * Coordinate with external research partners on advanced system development and evaluations.