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Animal Life Support Engineering Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Vast

Life Support System Engineer II

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$137K - $195K/yr

Perform systems engineering tasks and fluid analyses. * Lead design reviews internally and ... Life Support System Engineer II : $112,300 - $159,460 * Senior Life Support System Engineer : $137 ...

Abbott

Project Support - Engineering

Scarborough, ME · On-site

$25 - $27/hr

Title: Project Support - Engineering Location: Scarborough, Maine Duration: 3 Months (Summer ... Supplemental Life Insurance * Short Term Disability (coverage varies by state) * Long Term ...

Vast

Senior Life Support System Engineer

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$109K - $150K/yr

Vast is looking for a(n) Senior Life Support System Engineer , reporting to the Director of Life ... Perform systems engineering tasks and fluid analyses. * Lead design reviews internally and ...

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How much do animal life support engineering jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for animal life support engineering in the United States is $39.87, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $29.57 and $46.63 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by Animal Life Support Engineers when maintaining aquatic systems in research or zoological settings?

Animal Life Support Engineers often encounter challenges related to maintaining precise water quality parameters, ensuring the reliability of pumps and filtration systems, and responding quickly to system malfunctions to safeguard animal health. Working in research or zoological environments means collaborating closely with veterinary and animal care teams, often requiring quick troubleshooting and adaptation to diverse species’ needs. Staying up-to-date with evolving technology and regulatory standards is also essential to proactively prevent issues and support animal welfare.

What is Animal Life Support Engineering?

Animal Life Support Engineering focuses on designing, operating, and maintaining systems that provide the necessary environmental conditions for animals in facilities like aquariums, zoos, and research labs. These systems regulate water quality, temperature, oxygen levels, and filtration to ensure animal health and welfare. Professionals in this field work with a combination of mechanical, biological, and chemical processes to simulate natural habitats and meet regulatory standards. Their expertise is critical for sustaining diverse species in captivity.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Animal Life Support Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Animal Life Support Engineer, you need strong knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, combined with a degree in engineering or a related field. Experience with life support control systems, water quality monitoring tools, and certifications such as Certified Aquatic Life Support Operator (CALSO) are highly valued. Strong problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are essential soft skills in this role. These skills and qualifications ensure optimal animal welfare, regulatory compliance, and the safe, efficient operation of aquatic and zoological life support systems.

What is the difference between Animal Life Support Engineering vs Animal Care Technician?

AspectAnimal Life Support EngineeringAnimal Care Technician
Required CredentialsEngineering degree, certifications in animal systemsHigh school diploma, animal care certifications
Work EnvironmentLaboratories, research facilities, specialized animal habitatsZoos, veterinary clinics, animal shelters
Employer & Industry UsageResearch institutions, biotech companiesAnimal shelters, veterinary practices
Common Search & ComparisonFocuses on designing and maintaining animal support systemsFocuses on daily animal care and health monitoring

Animal Life Support Engineering involves designing and maintaining systems that ensure animals' environmental needs are met in research or captive settings, requiring engineering expertise. In contrast, Animal Care Technicians focus on daily animal health, feeding, and cleaning tasks. Both roles are essential in animal-related industries but differ significantly in credentials, work environment, and responsibilities.

Infographic showing various Animal Life Support Engineering job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, and 50% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $82,930 per year, or $39.9 per hour.

Life Support System Engineer II

Vast

Long Beach, CA • On-site

$137K - $195K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago

Job description

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(n) Life Support System Engineer II, reporting to the Director of Life Support Systems, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of human-rated space stations.
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.
Responsibilities:
  • Own the design and development of the environmental and thermal control systems for our artificial-gravity space station, from initial design trades to fully functional and validated system.
  • Iterate on manufacturing processes and development testing in a fast-paced environment.
  • Own the project delivery timeline from early design through production, launch, and orbit insertion.
  • Perform systems engineering tasks and fluid analyses.
  • Lead design reviews internally and externally with suppliers and customers.
  • Work with interdisciplinary stakeholders to ensure the component will integrate with the necessary avionics, software, and mission operations systems.
  • Make sure that all designs are manufacturable and reliable.
  • Bring technical excellence to everything you do.

Basic Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in an engineering or science discipline.
  • 2+ years of experience working with fluid or environmental control systems or components.
  • 3+ years of hands-on hardware experience performing fabrication, assembly and/or testing.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master's degree in an engineering discipline.
  • Proactive problem-solving skills such as failure analysis, root cause investigation, and design of experiment creation.
  • Ability to perform trade studies using first principles and engineering fundamentals to make clear recommendations even with partial information.
  • Experience with rotating machinery.
  • Experience with soft goods.
  • Experienced in NX.
  • Solid understanding and application of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and tolerance stack-up analysis.
  • Experience with structural analysis methods (hand calcs, FEMAP, ANSYS) in order to optimize hardware to strength requirements as well as to evaluate for life and fracture.
  • Knowledge of metallic and fluid system manufacturing techniques, processes, equipment, and other processes such as machining, welding, brazing, tube bending, etcetera.
  • Able to work well in an integrated collaborative team environment, including frequent interactions with technicians, other engineers, and managers.
  • Highly self-motivated with strong organizational and written/oral communication skills - able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment with the ongoing drive for continuous improvement in all aspects of work.

Pay Range:
  • Life Support System Engineer II : $112,300 - $159,460
  • Senior Life Support System Engineer : $137,700 - $195,550

Pay Range: California
$112,300-$195,550 USD
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast's ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.
U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS
The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a "U.S. person" as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.
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 in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

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