Vehicle Systems, Integration, & Test Engineer

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 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:
  • Engineer I: $105,000 -$139,466/per year
  • Engineer II: $119,543-$152,749/per year
• This role is on-sitein 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
  

Intern Positions:

Health & Wellness

• Paid observed holidays
• 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options
• $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
• Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents

Financial

• $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
• Up to $4,000 gross up in relocation support, if eligible
• Up to $850 commute credit through Lyft or car rental reimbursement, if eligible

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