Manager, Fluid Systems Manufacturing

Vast is looking for a Manager, Fluid Systems Manufacturing, reporting to the [Director/Head of Manufacturing], to lead the development and production of fluid systems required for the design and build of artificial-gravity, human-rated space stations.

This leader will be responsible for building and managing a team of Manufacturing Engineers supporting tube bending, orbital tube welding (OTW), TIG welding, precision cleaning, assembly, and test operations for the Haven-1 program.

This is a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Manufacturing Engineers supporting fluid systems production.
  Establish clear goals, performance expectations, and development plans for direct reports.
• Drive hiring, onboarding, and organizational scaling to support program milestones.
• Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.

Manufacturing Strategy & Execution

• Own the manufacturing strategy for fluid systems, including tube bending, orbital welding, manual TIG welding, cleaning, assembly, and pressure testing.
• Oversee the design, development, and implementation of tube bending and welding cells capable of meeting Haven-1 production demands.
• Lead first build and test efforts, ensuring robust design integration, assembly sequencing, mBOM development, work order creation, and specification authoring.
  
  
• Establish and maintain detailed manufacturing plans, assembly procedures, and work instructions to ensure consistent, repeatable, and high-quality production.
• Facilitate day-to-day production of bent tubes, OTW, and manually welded tubing, ensuring efficiency, safety, and adherence to quality standards.
  
  

Process Optimization & Continuous Improvement

• Identify and resolve manufacturing challenges by leading root cause analyses and implementing corrective and preventive actions.
  
  
• Challenge existing production and design requirements for tubing assemblies using data-driven insights to eliminate waste and improve throughput.
  
  
• Develop efficient tooling and automation solutions to streamline production and increase system output while reducing operational burden.
  
  
• Streamline and optimize production systems to improve manufacturing efficiency, reduce cost, and enhance product quality.
  
  

Cross-Functional & Quality Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with design, integration, quality, and production teams, as well as external vendors, to ensure timely and efficient program execution.
  
  
• Partner with quality assurance to establish and maintain rigorous quality control and inspection processes.
  
  
• Establish and enforce standard practices, troubleshooting guides, and standardized repair procedures, including reviewing and approving manufacturing planning documentation.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
  
  
• 6+ years of manufacturing engineering experience, preferably in aerospace, oil & gas, pharmaceutical, or other high-reliability industries.
  
  
• 2+ years of experience leading or managing technical teams.
  
  
• Hands-on experience with tube bending, orbital tube welding (OTW), TIG welding, precision cleaning, tooling design, fluid systems design, or pressure testing.
  
  
• Strong understanding of fluid systems manufacturing for high-reliability applications.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Demonstrated experience building and scaling manufacturing teams in a fast-paced development environment.
  
  
• Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
  
  
• Experience supporting human-rated, high-pressure, or mission-critical systems.
  
  
• Excellent problem-solving skills with demonstrated experience leading root cause investigations.
  
  
• Experience with testing and troubleshooting fluid components and systems.
  
  
• Comfortable working in a rapidly changing, high-ownership environment while balancing multiple priorities.