Starts off with recruiter screen. Next is hiring manager, followed by a team member. If you make it that far, then they invite you onsite. You will need to prepare a 20 min presentation on a past project. After, you will be subjected to 5 1:1 interviews about 30 min in length.
Vast is a cool company, but being young they are still trying to perfect logistics and methods. I was informed of the interview schedule, and prepared accordingly. However, they did some last minute changes. For example, they said I would be asked about software concepts for spacecraft as well as spacecraft hardware design and test, each for 2 interviews. However, due to last minute meetings and scheduling, they changed the interviewers and asked about completely different things.
People can have a lot of good technical knowledge in their brain and on hand, but at times some things need to be reviewed to get skills brushed up on. I feel that the time that I was preparing for the topics that were not even asked, could be used to review other core RF concepts that were not as fresh in my head. This felt like a disadvantage due to planning and logistic issues, classic HR and startup engineering team shenanigans.
Overall, be aware of sudden last minute changes. Be prepared for some topics that may not even be asked due to changes on their end. Just study all you can for the area of focus for the role, and adapt if they throw any curveballs at you.
One thing that was disappointing was no behavioral parts. I could not even show off how I am a valuable team member and passionate worker/engineer. It was all technical.
Great company. Young and still improving HR/interview processes. Mostly great team, but some people were little "rough around the edges" and antisocial. Excellent engineers, but not good interviewers.
Apply for VAST if you want a challenge and cool place to work, but be preapred for the cons and lack of structure/planning in a young company.
