Back to Jobs

Vast

Solar Array Engineer

Location

Long Beach, CA

Wage

$110,000 – $175,000/yr

Employment Type

Full-time

Apply for This Position

Posted on August 30, 2026

Job Description

Overview

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and infrastructure with a focus on low-cost approaches. The company is seeking a Solar Array Engineer to support the design and build of solar arrays for artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.

Responsibilities

  • Define requirements and trade architectures of solar arrays.
  • Select and qualify materials and vendors for solar arrays.
  • Develop and qualify processes for welding, adhesion, lamination of solar cells.
  • Test and qualify designs to AIAA S112 standards.
  • Interface with systems engineering, power electronics, structures, thermal, and mission assurance teams for end-to-end integration.
  • Troubleshoot issues across the product lifecycle—from design through integration and testing.
  • Participate in design reviews, drawing checks, and technical documentation for internal and NASA deliverables.

Requirements

  • Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, materials engineering, or related engineering discipline.
  • Experience working with design, manufacture and verification of photovoltaics or similar composite structures.

Benefits

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

Additional Information

  • This is a full-time, exempt position located in Long Beach, California.
  • Willingness to work overtime 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 $69/hr, this posting sits about 71% above the $40/hr median for welding jobs in Long Beach, CA — toward the top of a $31–$61/hr middle band drawn from 34 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 88% 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 38 other active welding openings in Long Beach, CA right now, from 14 different employers. 14 of them were added in the last week. Across California as a whole we're tracking 627 other active welding openings from 306 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 11 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 (31), Aerotek (16), 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 Redondo Beach at $51/hr, Santa Ana at $48/hr, and Long Beach at $40/hr. Long Beach is among them.

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. Solar Array Engineer figures were last recalculated when this page was built.