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Vast

Manufacturing Engineer - Fluid Systems

Location

Long Beach, CA

Wage

$85,000 – $230,000/yr

Employment Type

Full-time

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Posted on August 18, 2026

Job Description

Overview

Vast is developing next-generation space stations aimed at ensuring a continuous human presence in space. The company is seeking a Fluid Systems Manufacturing Engineer to help develop systems for the world's first artificial-gravity, human-rated space stations in Long Beach, California.

Responsibilities

  • Conceptualize, develop, and manufacture innovative tube-bending and welding cells for the Haven-1 program.
  • Lead first-build and test efforts including design integration and assembly sequencing.
  • Create and maintain detailed manufacturing plans and work instructions.
  • Identify and resolve manufacturing challenges through root-cause analysis.
  • Apply critical thinking to drive efficient human-spaceflight production.
  • Collaborate with design engineers, integration engineers, and production teams.
  • Develop tooling solutions to streamline production and increase system output.
  • Partner with quality assurance teams to maintain quality control processes.
  • Establish and maintain standard practices and troubleshooting guides.
  • Support day-to-day production of bent tubes and welded tubing.
  • Evaluate existing production and design requirements for tubing assemblies.
  • Continuously improve production systems by identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.
  • Hands-on experience in tube bending, orbital tube welding, TIG welding, or related fields.
  • 2+ years of manufacturing engineering experience, preferably in aerospace, oil & gas, or pharmaceutical industries.

Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • PTO
  • 401k

Additional Information

  • Full-time, exempt position based in Long Beach, California.
  • Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones.

Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
PTO
401k
Apply for This Position

How this job compares in Long Beach, CA

Pay in context

At roughly $76/hr, this posting sits about 137% above the $32/hr median for welding jobs in Long Beach, CA — toward the top of a $30–$42/hr middle band drawn from 12 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 100% of the comparable postings we have wage data for. Pay that far above local median usually comes attached to something: a harder cert requirement, travel, night shift, or overtime that isn't really optional. Worth establishing which before you accept.

The local market in Long Beach, CA

We're tracking 17 other active welding openings in Long Beach, CA right now, from 8 different employers. 3 of them were added in the last week. Across California as a whole we're tracking 399 other active welding openings from 208 employers. A metro this active generally means you have real leverage — employers here are competing for the same welders. Browse every welding job in Long Beach, or widen the search to California.

Vast currently has 2 other openings live in California, which is usually a sign of either steady growth or steady turnover — worth asking which in the interview.

The most active employers in California at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are SpaceX (20), Aerotek (17), and Volt (16). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within California, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Santa Ana at $48/hr, Los Angeles at $38/hr, and Hawthorne at $36/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.

What you'll be running

This posting calls for TIG. TIG (GTAW) uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode with filler added by hand, giving the operator the most control of any process. It is slow, demanding, and the standard for stainless, aluminum, and anything where the bead has to look as good as it holds.

See all manufacturing welder openings if you want to compare this against similar roles.

Similar openings near Long Beach, CA

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Manufacturing Engineer - Fluid Systems figures were last recalculated when this page was built.