Manager, Investigations And Intelligence
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 Manager, Investigations & Intelligence, reporting to the Senior Director, Security & Intelligence, 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.
The Manager, Investigations & Intelligence will lead investigative and intelligence programs that proactively protect our people, property, space stations, mission control, astronauts, and operations both on Earth and beyond. This position plays a critical role in safeguarding those who are pioneering the future of space exploration.
If you are passionate about leading complex investigations, producing actionable intelligence, and shaping strategic protection initiatives within a company building humanity's future in space, this role is for you.
Responsibilities :
- Lead the function responsible for investigative operations and intelligence analysis that support Vast's global protection and operational objectives.
- Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for investigations and intelligence that aligns with Vast's mission, culture, and evolving risk landscape.
- Partner closely with the Manager, Global Security Operations Center (GSOC) and Manager, Security Operations, to align investigative and intelligence activities with real-time operational response capabilities.
Investigations :
Direct and oversee sensitive and complex investigations. Improve and maintain investigative standards, documentation practices, and reporting frameworks to ensure consistency, compliance, and transparency.Collaborate with Legal, People, Cybersecurity, and Compliance teams to ensure all investigations are conducted ethically, legally, and with the utmost discretion.Analyze investigative trends and metrics to identify systemic risks and recommend mitigation strategies.Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership on investigative matters, providing insight and recommendations for future prevention and response.Intelligence :
Design, lead, and sustain a proactive intelligence program that delivers timely, relevant, and actionable insights to decision-makers across Vast.Oversee intelligence collection, analysis, and dissemination across domains, including geopolitical, aerospace, foreign intelligence, criminal, cyber, and insider threats.Develop and maintain relationships with external intelligence vendors, industry partners, and law enforcement to enhance threat awareness and response readiness.Produce high-quality intelligence reports, threat assessments, and executive briefings to inform operational and strategic decisions.Continuously assess emerging risks, technologies, and trends to inform long-term security and operational planning.Threat Management & Protective Support :
Collaborate with the GSOC on protective intelligence and threat management frameworks that support Vast's people and mission-critical assets.Ensure GSOC and investigative functions work in coordination to assess, track, and manage threats in real time.Collaborate with Operations, Cybersecurity, and the People team to fuse digital and physical intelligence for comprehensive threat analysis and mitigation.Advise on executive protection and event security planning through the application of investigative findings and intelligence assessments.Cross-Functional Collaboration & Continuous Improvement :
Work collaboratively with Legal, People, Cybersecurity, and Operations to drive integrated risk management and proactive protection measures.Partner with the Legal / Compliance teams to ensure compliance with ITAR / EAR export control requirements.Provide executive-level briefings and recommendations to the Senior Director and other stakeholders to inform strategic decision-making.Minimum Qualifications :
8+ years of progressive experience in investigations and intelligence analysis, including experience leading or managing programs.Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, intelligence studies, international relations, security management, or a related field.Preferred Skills & Experience :
Advanced degree in a relevant field (e.g., Intelligence Studies, Security Management, or International Relations).Proven experience conducting or overseeing sensitive internal investigations in corporate, defense, or government environments.Demonstrated ability to build or manage enterprise intelligence programs that drive operational and strategic decision-making.Experience collaborating with legal, compliance, and People partners to address sensitive matters ethically and effectively.Strong analytical, writing, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex findings to executive audiences.Familiarity with investigative software, intelligence platforms, and data analysis tools.Ability to manage confidential information and high-stakes issues with discretion and sound judgment.Willingness and ability to respond to emergent incidents and intelligence needs outside normal business hours.Experience in aerospace, defense, intelligence, or government sectors, or other highly regulated industries.Professional certifications such as CFE, CPP, PCI, PSP, or CFI.Experience in protective intelligence, insider threat mitigation, and geopolitical risk assessment.Established relationships with external intelligence and law enforcement partners.Additional Requirements :
Ability to travel up to 5% of the time.Demonstrated commitment to ethical conduct, confidentiality, and professionalism.Strong alignment with Vast's mission and culture of innovation, integrity, and exploration.