Manager, Soft Goods

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. Vast is developing next-generation space stations to ensure a continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and unlocking a new space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Using an incremental, hardware-rich and low-cost approach, Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station. Haven Demo’s 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Next, Haven-1 is expected to become the world’s first commercial space station when it launches, followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030. 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 Manager , Soft Goods reporting to the VP, Manufacturing , to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location. Responsibilities: Lead and mentor a team of soft-goods fabrication technicians and manufacturing engineers. Conduct daily team meetings to communicate goals, priorities, and expectations. Lead the engineering workstream for soft goods including providing technical direction and applying deep engineering knowledge to drive design, material selection, fabrication processes, manufacturability, testing, and resolution of complex technical challenges. Coordinate work schedules, staffing, and assignments to optimize productivity and meet program milestones. Own and improve manufacturing processes for soft goods fabrication, driving efficiency and scalability. Ensure aerospace industry quality standards are followed and continuously improved. Implement and oversee quality control measures, including inspection and documentation practices. Collaborate closely with engineering teams and cross-functional partners to drive process improvements and design for manufacturability (DFM). Coordinate repairs with maintenance teams in a timely manner to minimize downtime. Enforce safety protocols within the soft-goods manufacturing environment. Identify training and development needs for the team and build organizational capability. Develop and maintain strong relationships with leadership and cross-functional stakeholders. Ensure purchase orders and production activities are executed accurately with no cost overruns. Interface with internal customers/end users to define scope of work and ensure requirements are met. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in engineering related field. 5–7 years of experience in a manufacturing environment. 3+ years of experience working in a soft-goods manufacturing space. Preferred Skills & Experience: Proven leadership abilities with a track record of managing and developing teams. Experience leading or managing technical teams. Experience in a manufacturing leadership role within an aerospace or high-reliability environment. Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies. Commitment to safety, quality, and adherence to standards. Ability to analyze data and implement process improvements. Knowledge of aerospace-grade fabrics and sewing/fabrication processes. Strong problem-solving skills and ability to make timely decisions. Effective communication and collaboration skills across engineering and production teams. Comfortable working in a high-pressure environment with changing priorities. High attention to detail, strong work ethic, and personal integrity. Additional Requirements: Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones. Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassis…