Propulsion Engineer II - Hardware and Bus Systems

About Varda

Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.

From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.

Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.

Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.

Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.

About This Role

As the Propulsion Engineer II – Hardware & Bus Systems, you will be a hands-on technical owner of the propulsion subsystem and propulsion hardware across Varda's fleet of s pacecraft . Y ou will help own and maintain the system architecture, generate analysis products, perform component sizing, propulsion software tool development, data review, detailed mechanical design, subsystem test, operations , and more for vehicles both on the ground and in orbit.

You will take ownership of assigned systems and work products within a fast-moving interdisciplinary engineering team. Your work will directly contribute to the development of current and future vehicles key to Varda's growth. You'll thrive in a hands-on environment, building technical breadth and steadily raising the bar on everything you touch.

Responsibilities

• Support and maintain the Varda spacecraft propulsion system technical baseline, including P&IDs and system-level documentation
• Design, analyze, and test Varda satellite bus propulsion flight hardware and components
• Help scope and execute propulsion system block upgrades on operational vehicles — inclusive of both schematic and hardware changes — to increase reliability and launch cadence
• Support definition of requirements and high-level propulsion architecture for future Varda vehicles; contribute to project plans, roadmaps, and milestones
• Generate propulsion performance analysis products and document key requirements (propellant budgets, pressure ladders, fluid component sizing, structural & thermal limits, and more); deliver your outputs as key inputs to GNC, Mission Operations, Thermal, and other cross-disciplinary partner teams
• Build Python scripts and spreadsheet tools to automate recurring analysis and test data review workflows
• Execute detailed mechanical design of propulsion hardware and fluid system components; perform structural analysis using ANSYS, NASTRAN, or equivalent FEA tools
• Author and review design documentation, engineering specs, build/integration/test procedures, and engineering memos
• Support in-flight propulsion operations, including console support under senior engineer oversight
• Disposition hardware nonconformances; support anomaly investigations and contribute to corrective actions

Basic Qualifications

• B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline; equivalent professional experience considered (typically 1–3+ years)
• 3+ years of hands-on experience in propulsion or fluid systems design, build, and/or test for spacecraft or launch vehicles
• Working knowledge of flight fluid system hardware: pressurized components, tubing, fittings, seals, valves, and instrumentation
• Ability to read P&IDs; experience authoring P&IDs is a plus
• Proficiency with CAD tools (e.g., CATIA, SolidWorks, NX) and PLM software
• Experience authoring or executing operational procedures for ground test or flight campaigns
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of assigned technical tasks and drive them to resolution

Preferred Skills and Experience

• 3+ years of spacecraft or launch vehicle propulsion experience, including familiarity with satellite bus-level propulsion architectures (monopropellant, bipropellant, cold gas systems)
• Experience building Python scripts or spreadsheet tools to automate propulsion analysis or data review workflows
• Exposure to structural analysis using ANSYS, NASTRAN, or equivalent FEA tools applied to propulsion or fluid system hardware
• Familiarity with technical drawing review and GD&T per ASME Y14.5 standards
• Exposure to spacecraft-grade propellants including cryogenic, hypergolic, or high-test peroxide systems; awareness of cleanliness, handling, and safety requirements
• Test, launch site, or in-flight operational experience on spacecraft or launch vehicles
• Familiarity with 1D fluid modeling & analysis tools (GFSSP, REFPROP, or similar)
• Strong technical communication skills- clarity and precision in work instructions, engineering specs, and engineering memos

Pay Range

• Salary Range: Eng II: $119,543-$152,749/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

Benefits

Consider your benefits covered for launch. At Varda, we invest in benefits and perks that support your health, financial well-being, and life beyond work. Benefits vary by position, with packages designed specifically for our regular full-time employees and interns.

Regular Full-Time Positions:

Health & Wellness

• Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays
• 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options
• Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance
• $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
• 12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)
• Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic
• Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents

Financial & Retirement

• Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up
• 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)
• $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
• Relocation support for new hires, if needed

Workplace Experience & Perks

• Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
• Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations
• Complimentary EV charging