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Senior Technical Project Manager, Software

Long Beach, California, United States

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. We are building artificial gravity space stations, allowing long-term stays in space without the adverse effects of zero-gravity. Our initial crewed space habitat will be Haven-1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station when it launches into low earth orbit in May 2026. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.

Vast is looking for a Senior Technical Project Manager, Software, reporting to the Staff Technical Project Manager, to support the development of software that will be required to fly human-rated space stations.

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

As a Software Technical Project Manager at Vast, you’ll leverage your technical expertise to help drive complex, multi-disciplinary hardware and software projects. Rather than writing code, your role is to understand high-level software concepts and ensure alignment across engineering teams. You should have a strong grasp of fundamental computing principles, including what a compiler does, what a build system is, the difference between an embedded system and a PC, and the basics of how the internet functions. You will be embedded directly with the software teams at Vast.

You’re naturally curious about technology, deeply interested in how systems interact, and comfortable discussing technical trade-offs with engineers without overstepping into engineering roles. Additionally, you should have a foundational understanding of high-level electrical engineering concepts. A background in science or engineering is highly beneficial, as it enables you to bridge communication across disciplines and facilitate efficient collaboration. 

Responsibilities: 

  • Leverage your technical expertise to lead complex, multi-disciplinary software projects from start to finish, managing multiple critical software work streams such as mission operations software, flight software, embedded software, hardware-in-the-loop (HITL), simulation and modeling.
  • Act as a single point of contact for driving scope, schedule, cost, and resource management
  • Work closely with internal teams, external customers, and external vendors to deliver software solutions on tight timelines.
  • Report out project status and risk to program stakeholders and senior leadership
  • Organize and lead sprint planning for multiple software releases across multiple software teams.
  • Ensure program documents are complete, current and available for staff and leadership review
  • Contribute to resource planning to ensure program success
  • Establish standard reports to provide concise and effective communications to key stakeholders on program status, issues/risks, and accomplishments
  • Apply first principles approach to solve problems on tight timelines

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelor of Science degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Informatics, or related discipline
  • 5 years of experience in technical project or program management
  • Experience with Agile project management philosophies and proficient with project management tools
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Able to clearly communicate to both technical and non-technical audiences how technical and program trade offs impact overall mission success
  • Proficient at reading and writing software. You won’t be expected to write software as part of your day to day job, however, a successful candidate will understand software fundamentals and be comfortable reading and understanding code
  • Aptitude to thrive in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Skills & Experience:

  • Experience with software projects that have a large hardware dependency.
  • E.g. Robotics, Spacecraft, Drones, Medical Devices
  • Track record of launching space flight software or other similar hardware/software devices from concept to production
  • Ability to multitask in a dynamic environment with shifting priorities and changing requirements
  • Ability to think strategically and tactically and to build consensus to make programs successful

Additional Requirements:

  • Ability to travel up to 15% of the time
  • Must be willing and able to work weekends and non-standard work-week hours to support critical mission milestones

Salary Range: California

$135,000 - $180,000 USD

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
 
Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, flexible paid time off for exempt staff and up to 10 days of vacation for non-exempt staff, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, One Medical membership, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks.We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.
 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

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The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise be considered for deemed export licensing. To assist Vast in assessing its export compliance obligations in relation to your application, please identify which ITAR/EAR status applies to you:

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