Environmental Health & Safety Sr. Specialist

Vast is looking for an Environmental Health & Safety Sr. Specialist reporting to the Environmental Health & Safety Manager, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. This role is a full-time, exempt position at our Long Beach location focused on serving as a "boots on the ground" safety leader, managing site-specific EHS programs, and conducting investigations, and participating in or leading complex EHS program development.

Join Vast as an EHS Sr. Specialist and build the safety foundation for our next-generation space stations. You’ll be instrumental in shaping our safety culture, overseeing manufacturing and test safety, and managing complex aerospace hazards. If you are a hands-on safety leader who thrives on building programs from the ground up, this is your opportunity to define the standards for a growing aerospace team.

Responsibilities: 

• EHS Operations & Compliance:
• Actively represent the EHS Department and collaborate with all company departments in the implementation and upkeep of EHS standards and policies.
• Oversee compliance with regulatory mandates from CAL OSHA, RCRA, EPA, SCAQMD, DOT, DTSC, and CUPA.
• Maintain consistent communication with Operations and Facilities Teams about site projects that may impact EHS related planning and permits.
• Maintain and report accurate chemical inventories via CERS to ensure full CUPA compliance.
• Lead environmental quarterly reporting (EvQ), tracking metrics for waste, air, and water compliance.
• Manage Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) implementation, monitoring, and training requirements for the Long Beach facility.
• Oversee Industrial Wastewater (IWW) discharge permit compliance, including required sampling and reporting to local agencies.
• Actively collaborate with Operations and Manufacturing teams across all sites to manage safety needs as production ramps up. Proactively identify hazards associated with new equipment and processes to ensure compliance remains ahead of production growth.
• Lead the continuous improvement of the EHS record-keeping system (e.g., Jira/SMS) to improve reporting accuracy and data integrity.
• Inspections and Audits:
• Conduct various inspections (e.g., portable fire extinguishers, eye wash/shower stations, emergency lighting/exits, fall protection equipment, lifting straps/slings) and work area audits ensuring review and communication of corrective/preventative actions with area owners.
• Lead complex compliance and program audits. Develop and maintain EHS standards and procedures for specialized areas (e.g., laboratory compliance, non-operational safety). Train other employees on auditing protocols to drive continuous improvement.
• Waste & Materials Management:
• Manage tasks related to the handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste under RCRA LQG regulations.
• Manage Large Quantity Generator hazardous waste storage areas, including weekly inspections, proper storage, labeling, drum log, and housekeeping.
• Maintain necessary record keeping, including Uniform Hazardous & NON Hazardous Waste Manifests, Bill of Ladings, and hazardous waste profiles.
• Segregate and loose pack expired materials based on hazardous characteristics and types of waste.
• Order and maintain adequate spill supplies (pads, drums, secondary containment) and safety supplies (PPE, Fall Protection, LOTO, monitoring/testing equipment).
• Prepare and submit annual/biennial hazardous waste reports, including SB-14 Performance Reports.
• Manage comprehensive RCRA waste tracking, including manifest reconciliation, biennial reporting, and waste stream profiling.
• Incident Management & Investigation: Contribute to the investigation of workplace accidents and injuries to determine root cause and identify corrective actions.
• Provide critical support and technical context to EHS Engineers during serious incident investigations.
• EHS Program Development and Technical Support:
• Lead the completion of drafting and posting of Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures, updating equipment inventory.
• Support in review and approval of Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs) as assigned, ensuring compliance and best practices.
• Conduct and/or coordinate specialized employee EH&S training programs (e.g., Crane and Hoist, LOTO, Confined Space Entry).
• Mentorship & Development:
• Provide informal mentorship and on-the-job training to EHS Specialist I/II and EHS Program Coordinator personnel. Assist in the professional development of the team and support the EHS Manager in elevating team performance.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School Diploma.
• 4+ years of experience implementing and overseeing aspects related to an environmental, health and safety program.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Proven background in understanding, implementing, and formulating health and safety plans and policies.
• Hands-on involvement with emergency response teams in incidents involving hazardous and non-hazardous material releases into the air, soil, and water.
• Experience in overseeing Hazardous Waste storage and satellite accumulation areas.
• Comfortable stopping work or elevating concerns to individuals, teams, &/or supervisors
• Proficiency in Google Workspace and MS Office Suite/Windows operating systems and applications.
• Comfortable working within a construction or industrial setting, including a fast-paced and demanding start-up atmosphere.

Additional Requirements:

• Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs unassisted.
• Must be able to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), including respirators (tight or loose fitting), safety toe shoes, hearing protection, and safety glasses.
• Ability to obtain certification for Powered Industrial Trucks and Mobile Elevated Work Platforms.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time to support EHS functions across Vast locations, including Long Beach, Hawthorne, and the Mojave Test Site.