About this Role

Varda is seeking a Systems Engineer to fill a flight safety analyst and reentry compliance role. Joining our Mission Assurance team, you will produce the Flight Safety Analysis and regulatory strategy required for FAA Part 450 and Range Safety licensing. This is a highly cross-functional role that bridges the gap between complex engineering trades and regulatory approval. From defining safety-critical verification artifacts during design to supporting live on-console operations, you will ensure our flight hardware is verified and our reentry methodologies are mathematically sound.

Responsibilities

• Perform flight safety analyses for each mission, with a focus on failure mode trajectory modeling and debris field containment.
• Execute the technical regulatory strategy, Methods of Compliance, and safety cases for FAA launch and reentry authorizations.
• Complete vehicle-level functional hazard analyses (FHA) and failure mode and effect analyses (FMEA).
• Act as the Flight Safety responsible engineer during mission rehearsals and live recovery operations.
• Establish technical safety limits and mission rules for real-time on-console operations.
• Responsible for vehicle-level deliverables to regulatory organizations, in the service of mission reentry licenses and authorizations.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, systems engineering or related field.
• Demonstrated ownership and execution of a complex engineering project, cradle-to-grave.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and present to executives/customers/regulators.
• Strong experience with risk management methodologies and tools (FMEA, FHA, Fault Tree Analysis).
• Experience with integration of interdisciplinary systems in the aerospace industry.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Demonstrated experience with FAA Part 450, expected casualty modeling, trajectory dispersion, and/or debris analysis.
• Demonstrated safety critical mission operations in aviation or space applications.
• Proven experience navigating the FCC Part 25 (Commercial) or Part 5 (Experimental) licensing process, for satellite and reentry communications.
• Dedicated to adopting a lean approach to quality without compromising safety or reliability.

Pay Range

• Salary range: $104,000 - $145,000/per year
• This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA
• Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
• You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards

About This Role

Varda is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to serve as the primary architect for mission safety and reentry compliance. Joining our Mission Assurance team, you will lead the development of the Flight Safety Analysis and the regulatory strategy required for FAA Part 450 and Range Safety licensing. This is a highly cross-functional role that bridges the gap between complex engineering trades and regulatory approval. From defining safety-critical verification artifacts during design to supporting live on-console operations, you will ensure our flight hardware is verified and our reentry methodologies are mathematically sound.

Responsibilities

• Own the technical regulatory strategy, Means of Compliance, and safety cases for FAA launch and reentry authorizations.
• Own vehicle-level functional hazard analyses (FHA) and failure mode and effect analyses (FMEA).
• Maintain Expected Casualty and debris risk models to ensure all mission phases meet regulatory safety thresholds.
• Establish technical safety limits and mission rules for real-time on-console operations.
• Responsible for vehicle-level deliverables to regulatory organizations, in the service of mission reentry licenses and authorizations.
• Act as the Flight Safety responsible engineer during mission rehearsals and live recovery operations.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, systems engineering or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant aerospace engineering experience, with a previous role involving mission assurance, fight safety, or a senior systems engineering role. 
• Demonstrated experience with FAA Part 450, expected casualty modeling, trajectory dispersion, and/or debris analysis. 
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and present to executives/customers/regulators. 
• Strong experience with risk management methodologies and tools (FMEA, FHA, Fault Tree Analysis). 
• Experience with integration of interdisciplinary systems in the aerospace industry.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Demonstrated safety critical mission operations in aviation or space applications.
• Proven experience navigating the FCC Part 25 (Commercial) or Part 5 (Experimental) licensing process, for satellite and reentry communications.
• Dedicated to adopting a lean approach to quality without compromising safety or reliability.

Pay Range

• Salary range: $133,000 - $170,000/per year
• This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA
• Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
• You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards

About this Role 

As a Varda Avionics Hardware Engineer, you will design, manufacture, test, and represent electrical components used to fly and manufacture products in space. In this role you will have immense ownership of hardware through all lifecycle phases. Get excited to deliver and test products that will go to space and back! 

Some people say that you only have one chance to fly to space so you must be certain it will work. At Varda, we believe that the trip to space and back is the easiest trip our hardware takes. We stress our components above and beyond the levels it should expect to see in flight, and we investigate our failures thoroughly. Come join our team and build quality electronics that you love to see fly over and over again. 

Responsibilities 

• Develop mixed-signal designs and shepherd them through the full product lifecycle including requirements definition, design, development, qualification, and release to production 
• Support avionics architecture trade studies, analyses, performance characterization and specification, device selection, and roadmap direction 
• Support risk analyses, design for test/manufacture/cost, and root-cause analysis of test discrepancies
• Design electrical circuit boards
• Collaborate on mechanical design fit, form, and function
• Functionally test your hardware through thermal, vibe, shock, TVAC, and EMI
• Write vehicle level integration test plans to validate for flight
• Perform root cause analysis for test failures and develop mitigation strategies for flight risks
• Example of Avionics Products you'll be working on: flight computers, networking, star trackers, reaction wheels, magnetorquers, payload controllers, battery packs, solar charger, RF transceiver and decoder\ 

Basic Qualifications 

• B.S. in Electrical or Computer Engineer or related field
• 3+ years of direct experience in electronics hardware development 
• Demonstrated experience developing electrical circuit boards and delivering a working product 
• Strong sense of ownership and responsibility for components you contribute towards
• Strong hands-on experience with oscilloscopes, function generators, benchtop digital multimeters, and power supplies
• Understanding of analog/digital filtering, mixed-signal circuit design, analysis, and test
• Knowledge of signal integrity, power, grounding, and general board layout principles
• Experience programming in Python, MATLAB, or another scripting/data analysis language 
• Understanding of sensor and actuator technologies including: RTD’s, pressure transducers, DC brushless motors, solenoid valves, thermocouples, hydraulic servo valves, LVDT, RVDT, Rotary/Linear Encoders
• Don’t worry if you don’t check 100% of these boxes... We want to meet you! 

Preferred Skills and Experience 

• Demonstrated experience in delivering flight avionics for aircraft, launch vehicles, or other space applications 
• Schematic and layout experience using Altium Designer
• Strong understanding and experience in environmental testing, such as vibration, shock, thermal, and TVAC
• Direct experience in launch vehicle avionics systems integration
• Experience with high and low speed instrumentation and data acquisition
• Firm understanding of instrumentation, interfaces and sensors including power supplies, serial devices, switch topologies, accelerometers, and 4-20mA sensors 

Pay Range

• Salary range: $100,000 - $165,000  
• This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA
• Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
• You will be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards
  
  

About this role 

As a Principal Avionics Hardware Engineer at Varda, you will be the architect and designer of flight critical electrical hardware for our satellite bus, reentry vehicle, and customer payloads. Some examples include our flight computers, satellite power systems, sensors for navigation and monitoring pharmaceutical manufacturing. You will define subsystem requirements based on high level mission and company objectives, design to those requirements, and ensure the system as manufactured meets those requirements. In addition to designing and building electrical hardware, you will define its safe operating criteria and support our mission operations team on the risk tradeoffs of operating near the bounds of those criteria.  

At Varda, we believe that the trip to space and back is the easiest trip our hardware takes. We stress our components above and beyond the levels it should expect to see in flight and investigate our failures thoroughly. 

Responsibilities 

• PCB level electronics design at all lifecycle stages, from schematic capture, to layout, to design validation, fabrication/assembly, and manufacturing test. 

• Distilling high level company or mission objectives into requirements, designs, and developmental milestones for your subsystems. 

• Avionics subject matter expert for satellite, reentry vehicle, and payload hardware. Providing support to those using your products, namely the Varda GNC, pharmaceutical, mission operations, and integration teams. 

• Actively collaborate with cross functional teams such as flight software, thermal, GNC, and structures to determine across vehicle system impacts of design decisions. 

• Ownership of product acceptance and qualification testing for space environments (Thermal, Vibe, Shock, TVAC, and EMI) with support from the Avionics Test team. 

• Provide direction on system-level integration test plans to verify your hardware performs as expected at the vehicle level 

• Perform root cause analysis on test failures and implement holistic mitigation strategies for flight risks. 

• Mentor junior engineers on their projects, challenges, and design methodologies setting a high bar for the future leaders of Varda.  

Basic Qualifications:  

• B.S. in Electrical or Computer Engineering or related engineering discipline.  

• 5+ years of direct experience in electronics hardware development. 

• Demonstrated experience contributing to complex electronics systems from design to launch (to space or otherwise). 

• Demonstrable knowledge of signal integrity, power and grounding board layout principles. 

• Strong hands-on lab experience with oscilloscopes, function generators, benchtop digital multimeters, and power supplies. 

• Experience programming in Python, MATLAB, or another scripting/data analysis language. 

• Demonstrated experience implementing the hardware layer of numerous on-board and over-harness communication protocols such as SPI, RS422, and 1000BASE-T.  

• Experience designing analog/digital filtering and mixed-signal circuits.  

• Power electronics design experience including load switches and switch mode DC:DC converters. 

Preferred Skills & Experience: 

• Industry leading electronic circuit design and analysis skills 

• Strong supporting general knowledge in physics, math, and chemistry fundamentals for designing electronics that experience unique environments 

• Understanding of aerospace sensor and actuator technologies including: RTDs, pressure transducers, brushless motors, solenoid valves, thermocouples, stepper motors, and rotary/linear Encoders. 

Pay Range: 

• Salary range: $160-$200K   
• This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA
• Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
• You will be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards
  
  

About this role 

As a Principal Avionics Hardware Engineer at Varda, you will be the architect and designer of flight critical electrical hardware for our satellite bus, reentry vehicle, and customer payloads. Some examples include our flight computers, satellite power systems, sensors for navigation and monitoring pharmaceutical manufacturing. You will define subsystem requirements based on high level mission and company objectives, design to those requirements, and ensure the system as manufactured meets those requirements. In addition to designing and building electrical hardware, you will define its safe operating criteria and support our mission operations team on the risk tradeoffs of operating near the bounds of those criteria.  

At Varda, we believe that the trip to space and back is the easiest trip our hardware takes. We stress our components above and beyond the levels it should expect to see in flight and investigate our failures thoroughly. 

Responsibilities 

• PCB level electronics design at all lifecycle stages, from schematic capture, to layout, to design validation, fabrication/assembly, and manufacturing test. 

• Distilling high level company or mission objectives into requirements, designs, and developmental milestones for your subsystems. 

• Avionics subject matter expert for satellite, reentry vehicle, and payload hardware. Providing support to those using your products, namely the Varda GNC, pharmaceutical, mission operations, and integration teams. 

• Actively collaborate with cross functional teams such as flight software, thermal, GNC, and structures to determine across vehicle system impacts of design decisions. 

• Ownership of product acceptance and qualification testing for space environments (Thermal, Vibe, Shock, TVAC, and EMI) with support from the Avionics Test team. 

• Provide direction on system-level integration test plans to verify your hardware performs as expected at the vehicle level 

• Perform root cause analysis on test failures and implement holistic mitigation strategies for flight risks. 

• Mentor junior engineers on their projects, challenges, and design methodologies setting a high bar for the future leaders of Varda.  

Basic Qualifications:  

• B.S. in Electrical or Computer Engineering or related engineering discipline.  

• 8+ years of direct experience in electronics hardware development. 

• Demonstrated experience contributing to complex electronics systems from design to launch (to space or otherwise). 

• Demonstrable knowledge of signal integrity, power and grounding board layout principles. 

• Strong hands-on lab experience with oscilloscopes, function generators, benchtop digital multimeters, and power supplies. 

• Experience programming in Python, MATLAB, or another scripting/data analysis language. 

• Demonstrated experience implementing the hardware layer of numerous on-board and over-harness communication protocols such as SPI, RS422, and 1000BASE-T.  

• Experience designing analog/digital filtering and mixed-signal circuits.  

• Power electronics design experience including load switches and switch mode DC:DC converters. 

Preferred Skills & Experience: 

• Industry leading electronic circuit design and analysis skills 

• Strong supporting general knowledge in physics, math, and chemistry fundamentals for designing electronics that experience unique environments 

• Understanding of aerospace sensor and actuator technologies including: RTDs, pressure transducers, brushless motors, solenoid valves, thermocouples, stepper motors, and rotary/linear Encoders. 

Pay Range: 

• Salary range: $225K - $275K   
• This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA
• Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
• You will be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards
  
  

About this Role 

Varda is looking for a motivated Structures Engineer to join our team. In this role, you'll support the design, analysis, testing, and integration of structural components for our spaceflight systems and reentry vehicles. This is a great opportunity to grow your engineering skills while working alongside experienced engineers on real hardware in a fast-paced environment. You’ll contribute to projects that range from spacecraft structures to mechanical ground support equipment, while learning how to apply engineering fundamentals to solve complex, real-world problems.

This is a full-time, exempt position located at our El Segundo headquarters.

Responsibilities

• Derive hardware requirements and perform initial design trades given open-ended problem statements and stakeholder input.
• Evaluate the impact of hardware design decisions on packaging, thermal, environmental, and loads to ensure the best system-level solution.
• Own all aspects of hardware delivery, both technical and administrative.
• Use hand calculations, finite element analyses, and computer-aided designs (CAD) to ensure all hardware meets or exceeds requirements.
• Design and execute development and qualification testing.
• Develop tooling to support hardware integration and testing.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline with 1+ years of experience in related applications (e.g., structures for automotive, aircraft, spacecraft, etc.).
• Strong first principles thinking with an understanding of structural design, analysis, and test.
• Ability to perform appropriate structural analyses to demonstrate that a structure design meets or exceeds requirements (e.g., Hand Calcs, Ansys, Femap, Nastran, etc.).
• Familiarity with 3D CAD software (ideally NX).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Eagerness to learn and work on hands-on hardware projects.
• Excitement about making history at the forefront of both the space and pharmaceutical industries.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with aerospace hardware development practices, from concept to delivery (e.g., qualification testing practices, design for typical space environments, cleanliness, etc.).
• Experience with programming tools (Python, Matlab, etc.).
• Comfortable with hands-on assembly, fabrication, and machining of metallic parts.
• Familiarity with PLM software (ideally Teamcenter)

Pay Range

• $110,000 - $160,000 per year
• This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA
• Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
• You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards

About this Role

Varda is seeking an experienced Senior Structures Engineer to join our team. In this position, you will be responsible for the design, analysis, build and test of primary and secondary structures for Varda's new spaceflight structures and reentry vehicles. We are looking for engineers who thrive on solving complex problems, can operate effectively in a fast-paced environment, and share our passion for advancing in-space industry. The structures team supports a diverse range of projects and responsibilities -- this includes the design and development of spaceflight structures, mechanical ground support equipment (MGSE), and basic spacecraft mechanisms, as well as the mechanical needs of other teams across the company.

This is a full-time, exempt position located at our El Segundo headquarters.

Responsibilities

• Derive hardware requirements and perform initial design trades given open-ended problem statements and stakeholder input.
• Evaluate the impact of hardware design decisions on packaging, thermal, environmental, and loads to ensure the best system-level solution.
• Own all aspects of hardware delivery, both technical and administrative.
• Use hand calculations, finite element analyses, and computer-aided designs (CAD) to ensure all hardware meets or exceeds requirements.
• Design and execute development and qualification testing.
• Develop tooling to support hardware integration and testing.
• Technical mentorship of junior engineers. 

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline with 7+ years of experience in related applications (e.g., structures for automotive, aircraft, spacecraft, etc.).
• Strong first principles thinking with a deep understanding of structural design, analysis, and test.
• Ability to perform appropriate structural analyses to demonstrate that a structure design meets or exceeds requirements (e.g., Hand Calcs, Ansys, Femap, Nastran, etc.).
• Excellent 3D CAD skills (ideally NX) and experience translating models to production intent (detailed drawings, work instructions, etc.).
• Experience working with revision-controlled documentation in a PLM system (Teamcenter preferred).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an aptitude for interdisciplinary technical communication.
• Basic technical breadth across other disciplines (avionics, software, GNC, etc.).
• Excitement about making history at the forefront of both the space and pharmaceutical industries.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with aerospace hardware development practices, from concept to delivery (e.g., qualification testing practices, design for typical space environments, cleanliness, etc.).
• Direct experience with spaceflight vehicles, especially reentry vehicles, and the associated technical challenges therein.
• Experience with programming tools (Python, Matlab, etc.).
• Comfortable with hands-on assembly, fabrication, and machining of metallic parts.
• Experience designing and analyzing spacecraft heatshields

Pay Range

• $133,650 - $170,775 per year
• This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA
• Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
• You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards

Thermal Hardware Engineer

Role and expectations:

The Thermal Hardware Engineer is the Responsible Engineer (RE) for the hardware design of vehicle thermal and fluid systems. This role encompasses the development of tubing, valves, pumps, MLI, thermal straps, thermal switches, phase change materials, etc., used in passive and active thermal control systems. Day-to-day responsibilities will be focused in CAD design, drawings, GD&T, manufacturing, testing, procurement, and analysis. This is a great opportunity to grow your engineering skills with exposure to all aspects of spacecraft analysis and design. A proactive problem-solving approach and commitment to meeting tight schedules are critical to supporting Varda's goals of expanding manufacturing capabilities and reentry systems.  

 Responsibilities

• Conceive new thermal control concepts, assess feasibility, mitigate risk through test and analysis, and drive towards final hardware design.
• Derive hardware requirements and perform initial design trades given open-ended problem statements and stakeholder input.
• Work collaboratively with other spacecraft disciplines (payload, structures, avionics, software, integration, test, and operations) to design and develop thermal/fluid systems to meet vehicle requirements.
• Evaluate the impact of hardware design decisions on packaging, thermal, environmental, and loads to ensure the best system-level solution.
• Develop Thermal/Fluid hardware CAD design and drawings
• Conduct component-level structural, thermal, and fluid analysis.
• Inform manufacturing and integration of thermal/fluid hardware onto the vehicle.
• Conduct component-level acceptance and qualification tests for the space environment.
• Develop tooling to support hardware integration and testing.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline with 1+ years of experience applying engineering principles to design and develop thermal/fluid or mechanical systems.
• Familiarity with 3D CAD skills (ideally NX) and experience translating models to production intent (detailed drawings, work instructions, etc.)
• Strong heat transfer and stress first principles.
• Ability to perform appropriate fluid, structural, and thermal analyses to demonstrate that a fluid system design meets requirements (e.g., hand calcs, Excel, Ansys, Femap, Nastran, COMSOL, etc.)
• Experience in 0D and 1D thermal and/or fluid networks.
• Familiarity working with fluid components, including valves, motors, pumps, etc..
• Experience in MATLAB (or equivalent) for data processing and task automation. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an aptitude for interdisciplinary technical communication
• Eagerness to learn and work on hands-on hardware projects.
• Ability to successfully respond to evolving requirements in a fast-moving organization
• Excitement about making history at the forefront of both the space and pharmaceutical industries

Preferred Skills and Experience 

• Experience typical spacecraft thermal control technologies (e.g., heat pipes, pumped fluid systems, thermal blankets, optical coatings, etc.)
• Experience with aerospace hardware development practices, from concept to delivery (e.g., qualification testing practices, design for typical space environments, cleanliness, etc.).
• Comfortable with hands-on assembly, fabrication, and machining of metallic parts.
• A track record of taking ownership of projects and delivering results in a fast-paced environment.
• Master’s degree in an engineering discipline

 Salary Range: $115,000-145,000.00

About this Role 

As an Avionics Systems Engineer, you will have a comprehensive role overseeing the design, integration, and testing of avionics systems for the Winnebago vehicle. You will ensure that all systems are ready for both launch and operational phases, requiring a deep understanding of avionics system design, manufacturing processes, and operational protocols. This role involves close collaboration with various engineering teams, where you will navigate and resolve conflicting requirements to achieve seamless system integration. Your expertise will be crucial in 
ensuring the vehicle meets its mission objectives, from space manufacturing to hypersonic testing during reentry. 

Responsibilities 

• Collaborate with cross functional teams to define project scopes and initial requirements, guiding designs from concept to prototype and full-scale production.
  
• Develop electrical architecture, system diagrams, and budgets to account for power, telemetry, channel count, size, and mass predictions used to communicate closing vehicle solutions to company level objectives.
  
• Analyze architecture for potential faults and risks, develop comprehensive mitigation plans, resolve uncertainties, and collaborate on Fault Detection Isolation and Recovery (FDIR) or operational workarounds when hardware solutions are unfeasible. 
• Conduct comprehensive verification plans for avionics systems on flight and HITL hardware, ensuring readiness for launch and compliance with mission objectives for space and reentry operations
• Participate in mission operations as an Avionics specialist or system operator, where you’ll determine system health, suggest corrective actions, and to reentry commit criteria for operational success. 
• Oversee the integration of the Winnebago avionics systems, acting as the primary point of contact for integrated systems investigations
• Design, build, and operate the Hardware In The Loop (HITL) testbeds, simulating the spacecraft on the ground to ensure all systems are mission ready
• Develop avionics ground infrastructure, supporting the design and integration of test racks and R&D equipment used to power and communicate with the flight vehicles. Contribute to developing engineering best practices, focusing on increased test automation and efficiency. 
• Draw from your experiences to help mentor and train new engineers, fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement within the team. 
  
  
  

Basic Qualifications 

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field. 
• Experience: At least 5 years of experience in system design, test planning, and validation. 
• Programming Skills: Proficiency in programming and debugging with Python. 
• Technical Expertise: Experience with power supplies, modular DAQ systems, RTD and 4-20mA devices, and general test equipment. 

Preferred Skills and Experience 

• Proven experience taking vehicle electrical systems from concept to operational production. 
• Prior experience setting up HITL testbeds, managing configuration control, and conducting system level tests. 
• Familiarity with Unix environments and the ability to use command line utilities. 
• Experience developing test cases and test equipment to meet vehicle operating conditions. 
• Strong project or program management skills

Varda was founded under the belief manufacturing in zero-gravity is critical to unlocking new materials.  We are actively working on spacecraft and technologies to make this possible and expand humanity’s manufacturing capabilities.

The ideal candidate will lead the aerodynamic development of Varda’s next reentry vehicle – from rarefied entry, to hypersonic maneuvering, and subsonic terminal approach. The candidate must have experience with: 6-DOF reentry vehicle dynamics, hypersonic computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, and running wind tunnel campaigns. The ideal candidate should have been involved in the aerodynamic development of a currently-flying vehicle from cradle to grave. 

Basic Qualifications:

• BS in an engineering of physics & 5+ years of relevant industry experience
• Significant contribution to aerodynamic development of a hypersonic vehicle that has flown or is expected to fly in the next 5 years
• Managed an aerodynamic or flight program that collected data from: test, CFD, flight, and other sources
• Experience running CFD and DSMC simulations of hypersonic and subsonic flows: (Fun3D, Laura, DPLR, US3D, Sparta, DAC, CBAero)
• Comfortable building structured and unstructured meshes in Pointwise
• Experience with Matlab, or Python languages
• Experience with wind tunnel campaigns
• Experience developing an aerodynamic database for a vehicle from scratch
• Basic technical breadth across other disciplines (avionics, software, GNC, etc.).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an aptitude for interdisciplinary technical communication.
• Must be able to obtain a security clearance

Preferred Experience:

• MS or PhD degrees in Aerospace or Mechanical engineering, specializing in aerodynamics or fluid mechanics
• Familiarity with modeling vehicle dynamics in POST2 or similar tools
• Experience sizing ablative or non-ablative TPS
• Experience with flight reconstruction and post-flight performance evaluations.
• Experience with flight testing of new aerodynamic features and concepts.  
• Hold a secret or TS clearance. 

Pay Range

• Principal Aerodynamics Engineer: $192,500.00 - $221,375.00/per year
• This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA
• Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
• You will be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards

About This Role 

As a Senior Systems, Integration, and Test Engineer, you will have a broad role scope owning vehicle systems, integration, and test. Ultimately, engineers are responsible for the vehicle and ensuring all systems are ready for launch and operations. To accomplish this, engineers need knowledge of system design, manufacturing, test, and operations. This role interfaces with all engineering departments and Integration and Test Engineers must be able to drive conflicting requirements to implemented solutions.

Responsibilities 

• Develop and own the vehicle integration and test campaign to validate and verify vehicle flight readiness
• Own technical decisions to ensure vehicle success
• Analyze and optimize system-level performance metrics, including but not limited to mass, delta-V, power, and data budgets to ensure technical feasibility and operational success
• Influence and direct the vehicle by conducting, evaluating, and leading system-level trades and design reviews to drive top-level vehicle design, functionality, and ultimately performance.
• Manage the technical outcome and milestone schedule to enable the delivery of vehicles on schedule
• Own vehicle schematic and harness design by understanding and providing input to vehicle avionics, propulsion, and guidance systems
• Evaluate vehicle change impacts and drive execution of vehicle-level change implementation
• Utilize python to automate system testing and data review to increase efficiency and repeatability of vehicle level hardware health verification
• Operate vehicles in space  

Basic Qualifications 

• B.S. degree in engineering, physics, or related field and 5+ years of experience in systems, integration, and/or test 
• Teamwork, communication, and problem solving in a collaborative environment 
• Proven experience working on complex technical programs, preferably within aerospace or related industries  
• Strong first principles thinking and technical breadth across relevant fields (electrical, mechanical, software, etc.) 
• Working knowledge of aerospace vehicle subsystems 
• Hands-on experience building aerospace vehicles 
  • Must be physically able to regularly lift 25 lbs.  
  • Must be comfortable bending, stooping, and standing 
  • Hands-on position may require standing and working directly with hardware on the floor  

Preferred Skills and Experience 

• Deep knowledge of satellite systems engineering, including all satellite subsystems 
• Experience with project management of the full lifecycle of a project 
• Capability to solve complex problems autonomously as an individual or as a member of an integrated team. 
• Experience with one or more general-purpose programming languages, such as C++ & Python
• Experience with aerospace hardware development practices (e.g., qualification testing practices, design for typical space environments, cleanliness, etc.)  
• Prior work in a technical leadership role for a launch vehicle or satellite development effort 
• Experience supporting flight test or flying spacecraft 
• Experience in a production environment 
• Wiring schematic, harness design, and harness manufacturing experience 
• Unigraphics NX experience or similar CAD software  

Pay Range

• Salary Range: $130,000.00 - $180,000.00/per year
• This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA
• Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
• You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards 

About This Role

The Thermal Analysis Engineer serves as a key member of the vehicle engineering team to develop thermal architectures and provide hardware design requirements for all of Varda’s space vehicles. This position will drive spacecraft hardware design and testing, from the vehicle level down to the component level.  This highly team-oriented role will provide exposure to all aspects of spacecraft analysis and design

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain top level Integrated Thermal Analysis models for Varda’s space vehicles. 
• Work collaboratively with other spacecraft disciplines to set thermal hardware requirements, such as temperature ranges, conductances, optical properties, etc. 
• Create and maintain tools/systems for managing inputs and outputs of the thermal analysis team and distributing temperature predictions and other thermal requirements to the hardware design teams.  
• Inform component level acceptance and qualification tests, as well as directing vehicle level TVAC test campaigns. 
• Provide thermal guidance to mission operations and hardware decisions. 
• Post-flight correlations to assess performance and improve thermal models.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant technical field with 4+ years experience performing vehicle level spacecraft thermal analysis in Thermal Desktop software. 
• Experience performing detailed thermal analysis in programs such as ANSYS static and transient thermal (or equivalent). 
• Intermediate level skills in Matlab (or equivalent) for data processing and task automation. 
• Ability to provide definition to open ended problems and perform initial sizing with hand calcs in programs such as Excel. 
• Familiarity with thermal margins and test requirements in SMC-S-016 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an aptitude for interdisciplinary technical communication 
• Ability to successfully respond to evolving requirements in a fast-moving organization 
• Excitement about making history at the forefront of both the space and pharmaceutical industries 

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience of the entire project lifecycle of a spacecraft, from initial concept to mission success 
• Familiarity with typical spacecraft thermal control technologies (e.g. heat pipes, pumped fluid systems, thermal blankets, optical coatings, etc.) 
• Project management or project leadership experience 
• Master’s degree in an engineering discipline 

 Salary Range: $115,000-145,000.00

About This Role 

The Senior Thermal Analysis Engineer serves as a key member of the vehicle engineering team to develop thermal system architectures, generate flight predictions, and inform mission operations to survive all environments through all mission phases from ascent to reentry. This position drives spacecraft hardware design and testing from the vehicle level down to the component level.  It is a highly team-oriented role with exposure to all aspects of spacecraft analysis, design, test, performance validation, integration, and operations. 

As a senior thermal analyst, a thorough understanding and experience in active and passive thermal control systems are essential. You will often flex between quick hand calculations and detailed analysis to support program needs and determine associated vehicle impact and risk. You will also contribute to thermal team data processing and documentation workflows to ensure a robust system as we scale in vehicle production and mission operations. A proactive problem-solving approach and commitment to meeting tight schedules are critical to support Varda's goals of expanding manufacturing capabilities and reentry systems.  

When you join our team, you will be side by side with curious innovators and relentless problem solvers. You will interface with internal and external stakeholders as a technical authority in the physics of heat and mass transfer. Clear and thorough verbal and written communication is fundamental for individual and team success. 

Responsibilities 

• Develop and maintain integrated thermal analysis models for Varda’s space vehicles. 
• Ensure spacecraft thermal design includes passive and active means of controlling the vehicle system and component environments within operating and survival limits during all mission phases. Seek solutions that provide operational simplicity and system robustness.
• Create and maintain tools/systems for pre- and post-processing thermal analysis.
• Work collaboratively with other spacecraft disciplines to define thermal hardware requirements, such as optical properties, conductances, insulation, passive and/or active thermal control, vehicle attitude control, etc. 
• Predict thermal loads and inform component level acceptance and qualification tests.
• Provide thermal guidance to vehicle level testing, such as thermal bakeout, Vehicle-In-The-Loop (VITL), Thruster Hot Fire, etc.
• Plan and execute vehicle level Thermal Vacuum (TVac) testing for future vehicles.
• Publish flight temperature and active thermal control predictions and provide thermal guidance to hardware teams, energy budget, and mission operations.  
• Anchor thermal models to vehicle level Thermal Vacuum (TVac) testing and/or flight data to assess performance and improve thermal models. 
• Define Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) blanket design, fabrication, and installation.
• Work independently with minimal technical oversight
• Work open ended problems to inform technical decisions, balancing efficiency and fidelity.
• Mentor junior engineers and serve as a technical peer reviewer. 

Basic Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related Engineering discipline with a minimum of 5+ years of related professional experience, or a Master's degree in a related engineering discipline and 3+ years of related professional experience.
• Experience and knowledge in developing passive and active thermal control systems.
• Proficiency in detailed thermal analysis and troubleshooting in programs such as Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, ANSYS, MSC Nastran.
• Experience anchoring thermal models to test and/or flight data.
• Experience in planning and executing Thermal Vacuum Chamber (TVac) testing.
• Experience in MATLAB (or equivalent) for data processing and task automation. 
• Ability to structure open ended problems and perform initial sizing with hand calcs.
• Experience in 0D and 1D thermal and/or fluid networks.
• Familiarity with thermal margins and test requirements in SMC-S-016 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an aptitude for interdisciplinary technical communication (structures, avionics, software, production, GNC, etc.)
• Ability to successfully respond to evolving requirements in a fast-moving organization  

Preferred Skills and Experience 

• 7-10+ years of related professional work experience
• Experience of an entire spacecraft vehicle lifecycle, from initial concept, design development, production, integration, and test to mission operations. 
• Familiarity with typical spacecraft thermal control technologies (e.g. heat pipes, pumped fluid systems, thermal blankets, optical coatings, etc.) 
• Experience in thermal design and analysis of reentry systems
• Project management or project leadership experience  

Pay Range

• $133,650 - $170,000 per year
• This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA
• Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
• You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards

About this Role

• Create and manage 3D models, 2D technical drawings, and large CAD assemblies for spacecraft hardware using Siemens NX, adhering to ASME Y14.5 standards.
• Ownership of the overall bill of materials (BOM), vehicle configuration, and hardware release process.
• Design tooling, jigs and fixtures to support in-house build and integration activities.
• Collaborate directly with part owners on new flight and MGSE hardware design projects.
• Codify design for manufacturability (DFM) best practices and provide feedback on hardware designs.
• Collaborate with engineering leads to define, implement and maintain CAD standards, templates, and libraries in Siemens NX to ensure consistency across design teams.
• Train and mentor CAD users (designers, engineers) on NX and Teamcenter best practices, boosting team productivity.
• Update existing designs through engineering change notices to support rapid iteration and project goals.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, or related engineering field with 5+ years of design experience using Siemens NX and Teamcenter.
• Advanced proficiency in 3D modeling, design for manufacturability (DFM), and 2D technical drawing creation, adhering to ASME Y14.5 standards.
• Experience creating and managing large CAD assemblies.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills to work across engineering teams.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Expertise in diverse NX design techniques, including tube routing, harness routing and surface modeling.
• Experience enhancing CAD environments by developing templates, libraries, or workflows within NX or Teamcenter.
• Familiarity with collaborating on CAD system customization, such as working with vendors or internal IT to refine workflows or incorporate enhanced functionality.
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple design projects and system support tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with mechanical engineering design, manufacturing and basic analysis practices.
• Familiarity working with production teams to generate manufacturing bill of materials (mBOM).

Pay Range

• $130,000 - $170,000 per year.
• This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA.
• Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance.
• You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards.

About This Role

As an Integration and Test Engineer, you will have a broad role scope owning vehicle systems, integration, and test. Ultimately, engineers are responsible for the vehicle and ensuring all systems are ready for launch and operations. To accomplish this, engineers need knowledge of system design, manufacturing, test, and operations. This role interfaces with all engineering departments and Integration and Test Engineers must be able to drive conflicting requirements to implemented solutions. 

Responsibilities

• Develop and own the vehicle integration and test campaign to validate and verify vehicle flight readiness 
• Own vehicle technical and programmatic decisions to ensure vehicle success 
• Create, maintain, and execute build and test procedures 
• Create and maintain build schedules to drive delivery of flight components, ground support equipment, and software readiness 
• Maintain vehicle system budgets (power, mass, telemetry, etc) and ensure the tools output relevant information for all teams 
• Evaluate vehicle change impacts and drive execution of change implementation  
• Own avionics systems, schematics, and harness design
• Operate vehicles in space 

Basic Qualifications

• B.S. degree in engineering, physics, or related field and 1+ years of experience (internships & projects included) in systems, integration, and/or test 
• Teamwork, communication, and problem solving in a collaborative environment 
• Strong first principles thinking and technical breadth across relevant fields (electrical, mechanical, software, etc.) 
• Hands-on experience building aerospace vehicles 
  • Must be physically able to regularly lift 25 lbs.  
  • Must be comfortable bending, stooping, and standing 
  • Hands-on position may require standing and working directly with hardware on the floor 

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Working knowledge of aerospace vehicle subsystems 
• Experience with project management of the full lifecycle of a project 
• Capability to solve complex problems autonomously as an individual or as a member of an integrated team. 
• Experience with one or more general-purpose programming languages, such as C++ & Python
• Experience with aerospace hardware development practices (e.g., qualification testing practices, design for typical space environments, cleanliness, etc.)  
• Prior work in a technical leadership role for a launch vehicle or satellite development effort 
• Experience supporting flight test or flying spacecraft 
• Experience in propulsion systems, integration, and/or test 
• Experience in a production environment 
• Wiring schematic, harness design, and harness manufacturing experience 
• Unigraphics NX experience or similar CAD software 

Pay Range

• Salary Range: $110,000.00 - $160,000.00/per year
• This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA
• Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
• You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards