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# Director, Fluid Systems Test

- **Company:** Vast, Inc
- **Location:** Long Beach, CA, United States
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $203,360.0 - $288,672.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Systems Engineering, Configuration Management, Formal Verification, Hardware Design, Systems Development Life Cycle, System Testing, Strategies of Testing, Integration Tests
- **Published:** June 10, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=fda62261831f418d

## About the Role

Do you have experience in Thermal analysis?, Do you have a Master's degree?, * Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline

 * 10+ years of experience in aerospace, military and defense, launch vehicle, spacecraft, propulsion, or complex fluid systems testing environments
 * 5+ years of technical leadership or people management experience leading engineering or test organizations
 * Experience developing, operating, or scaling fluid, propulsion, thermal, cryogenic, pneumatic, or pressurized system test infrastructure
 * Strong understanding of instrumentation systems, data acquisition (DAQ), controls integration, automation systems, and test operations
 * Experience leading high-risk operations involving hazardous fluids, cryogenic systems, pressure systems, or oxygen-compatible systems
 * Demonstrated success leading integrated test campaigns under aggressive hardware development schedules
 * Experience partnering cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, systems engineering, quality, and operations organizations
 * Strong analytical, operational decision-making, root cause investigation, and troubleshooting skills
 * Excellent communication and leadership skills with the ability to present technical and programmatic updates to executive leadership, * Experience supporting human-rated spacecraft, launch vehicles, or advanced aerospace development programs
 * Familiarity with NASA, aerospace, military, or commercial spaceflight fluid systems testing standards and operational practices
 * Experience with propulsion hot-fire testing, thermal vacuum testing, integrated environmental testing, or spacecraft acceptance testing
 * Knowledge of cryogenic systems, oxygen systems, hypergolic fluid handling, pressurized systems, or life support fluid systems
 * Experience scaling test infrastructure and operations in fast-paced hardware development environments
 * Background supporting launch campaigns, mission operations, vehicle integration, or flight certification activities
 * Experience building large-scale engineering or operations organizations supporting critical test infrastructure
 * Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline
 * Ability to work extended hours and weekends as needed during critical test campaigns and program milestones
 * Ability to travel occasionally in support of suppliers, test sites, integration activities, and launch operations

## Description

* Lead the Fluids Test organization responsible for component, subsystem, and integrated system development and qualification testing across propulsion, thermal control systems, ECLSS, pressurized systems, and spacecraft fluid distribution hardware
 * Develop and execute the long-term fluids test strategy supporting Haven-1 and future spacecraft programs from early development through qualification, supporting integration and flight readiness
 * Build, mentor, and scale a multidisciplinary organization of test engineers, technicians, operations specialists, controls engineers, and infrastructure teams
 * Oversee the design, commissioning, operation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of fluids test stands, pressure systems, cryogenic systems, vacuum systems, and supporting ground infrastructure
 * Define and drive integrated test campaigns validating system performance, reliability, operational readiness, and human-rated safety requirements
 * Partner closely with Propulsion, Thermal, ECLSS, Structures, Avionics, GNC, Manufacturing, Systems Engineering, and Mission Operations teams to align test objectives, verification strategies, and development schedules
 * Establish rigorous engineering and operational processes for instrumentation, controls integration, data acquisition, calibration, configuration management, and test reporting
 * Lead test readiness reviews, operational procedure development, hazard analyses, and safety reviews for high-risk fluid, cryogenic, and pressurized system operations
 * Drive root cause investigations, anomaly resolution, corrective actions, and failure analysis efforts arising from integrated test campaigns and system performance issues
 * Develop organizational metrics, operational visibility tools, and infrastructure planning strategies to improve test throughput, utilization, reliability, and schedule predictability
 * Manage facility utilization, capital equipment planning, operational budgets, staffing forecasts, and long-range infrastructure investments
 * Support acceptance testing, spacecraft integration activities, launch site operations, and mission readiness testing as programs progress toward flight operations
 * Help establish the operational philosophy, safety standards, and verification methodologies for future human-rated spacecraft fluid systems and integrated test operations
 * Foster a culture of technical excellence, urgency, accountability, ownership, collaboration, and safety-first execution across the organization


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