Job Details

Overview

Join to apply for the Senior Network Engineer role at Vast.

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.

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Network Engineer to help architect, implement, and support mission-critical network infrastructure across data centers, cloud platforms, and enterprise WAN environments. This role requires a strong technical background in routing, switching, security, and automation, as well as the ability to work independently and collaboratively within cross-functional teams. You will support infrastructure modernization, lead complex troubleshooting efforts, and help shape the evolution of network services across the organization. This position is full-time and exempt, located in our Long Beach location.

The role is ideal for engineers who are passionate about performance, security, and scalability—and who thrive in technically demanding environments with room to innovate.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, configure, and maintain enterprise network infrastructure, including routing, switching, VPNs, wireless, firewalls, and load balancers across multi-vendor environments (Cisco, Juniper, Fortinet, Arista, Palo Alto, F5).
• Build and support Layer 3 campus and data center networks leveraging protocols such as BGP, OSPF, VXLAN/EVPN, and MPLS.
• Lead implementation of SD-WAN, hybrid cloud networking, and secure connectivity solutions (AWS/Azure/GCP).
• Deploy and maintain monitoring, logging, and network observability platforms to ensure system health and performance.
• Collaborate with architecture and cloud teams to support scalable, resilient designs and cloud migration initiatives.
• Participate in the development and enforcement of network standards, documentation, and operational playbooks.
• Apply automation tools (e.g., Python, Ansible, Jinja2) to reduce configuration errors and improve operational efficiency.
• Serve as escalation point for complex network issues and provide root cause analysis and long-term remediation plans.
• Maintain awareness of emerging technologies, security threats, and industry best practices; proactively make recommendations for improvement.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to technical knowledge-sharing across the team.

Minimum Qualifications

• 7+ years of hands-on experience in network engineering roles supporting large-scale enterprise or service provider environments.
• Deep understanding of Layer 2/3 networking, including VLANs, STP, HSRP/VRRP, BGP, OSPF, QoS, and multicast.
• Experience with modern data center and campus fabrics using VXLAN, EVPN, and spine-leaf architectures.
• Proven expertise in configuring and supporting firewalls, VPNs, and remote access technologies.
• Practical experience with hybrid cloud or cloud-native networking in AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Working knowledge of automation and scripting (Python, Ansible, REST APIs) for network operations and configuration management.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills across networking, security, and infrastructure layers.
• Ability to manage projects, communicate technical ideas clearly, and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Network Engineering, or related technical field; technical bootcamps or equivalent work experience will be considered in lieu of a degree for outstanding candidates.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Professional-level certifications such as CCNP, JNCIP, or vendor-neutral equivalents (CWNP, CompTIA, etc.).
• Experience supporting SD-WAN, NAC (e.g., ClearPass, ISE), wireless networking, and network segmentation solutions.
• Exposure to infrastructure as code, Git-based configuration pipelines, and open-source monitoring tools (NetBox, Grafana, Zabbix, etc.).
• Experience in regulated or high-availability industries such as finance, aerospace, media, or healthcare.

Salary Range

• Senior Network Engineer: $140,000 - $185,000 USD
• Staff Network Engineer: $160,000 - $230,000

Compensation and Benefits

Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to benefits and perks, including: 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, flexible paid time off, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, and other perks.

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 by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected status.