Tax Analyst

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 2026. It is part of our stepping stone approach to continuous human presence in LEO.Our team isall-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 seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Tax Analyst, reporting to the Director of Finance,to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.

You will assist with federal, state, and local tax filings, research tax implications related to new business activities, and support cross-functional initiatives to ensure compliance in a fast-growing, technically complex environment. This role is ideal for a tax professional excited to build in a high-growth, early-stage aerospace and manufacturing organization.

This will be a full-time,exempt/non-exempt position located in ourLong Beachlocation.

Responsibilities:

• Prepare and support federal, state, and local tax filings, including income, payroll, sales & use, property, and excise tax returns
• Assist with quarterly and annual tax provision calculations and related journal entries
• Maintain a tax calendar to ensure deadlines are met and all filings are completed accurately and on time
• Perform tax research and analysis related to new markets, R&D credits, incentives, and evolving regulations
• Support external tax advisors and auditors with data requests and documentation
• Reconcile tax-related general ledger accounts and maintain tax workpapers and records
• Monitor changes in tax law and assess potential business impacts
• Partner with Accounting, Procurement, and Legal to validate tax treatment for vendors, materials, and international transactions
• Support implementation of process improvements and automation within the tax workflow
• Assist with ad-hoc tax projects, audits, and compliance initiatives as needed

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 3–5 years of tax experience in public accounting or corporate tax
• Strong understanding of U.S. federal and state tax regulations
• Proficient with Excel/Sheets and tax research tools
• Excellent communication skills and ability to translate tax requirements to non-finance stakeholders
• High attention to detail, organization, and confidentiality

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• CPA, EA, or progress toward certification a plus
• Experience in manufacturing, aerospace, or government contracting
• Familiarity with NetSuite or similar ERP systems
• Experience with sales & use tax and indirect tax compliance
• Exposure to R&D tax credits, incentives, or international tax concepts
• Strong analytical skills with ability to interpret and apply tax code and rulings

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time
• Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones

Pay Range:

• Tax Analyst I: $27.88 - $42.30 per hour
• Tax Analyst II: $73,000 - $110,000