Systems Engineer, Mission Assurance

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.

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 (coming soon).

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

About This Role

Varda is looking for a Systems Engineer to join our Mission Assurance team where you will establish our core systems development functions from the ground up. The Mission Assurance team partners with Vardas design and manufacturing teams through the entire product development lifecycle for flight hardware while supporting the FAA and range safety licensing processes. This includes identification of key design characteristics development testing for manufacturability or reliability detailed acceptance or qualification test planning mission safety and addition Mission Assurance supports the development of flight safety analyses and verification artifacts for all phases of the mission. You will use your skills to ensure spacecraft reliability and mission success.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end mission assurance activities for aerospace systems from early design through launch and mission operations.
• Drive requirements decomposition allocation and traceability to ensure all mission safety and regulatory needs are met.
• Own vehicle-level functional hazard analyses (FHA) and failure mode and effect analyses (FMEA).
• Provide critical peer review of hardware during design reviews and acceptance and qualification test campaigns.
• Responsible for vehicle-level deliverables to regulatory organizations in the service of mission reentry licenses and authorizations.
• Responsible for vehicle level risk management and determination of program risk posture and execution of effective mitigation strategies.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in aerospace mechanical electrical manufacturing systems engineering or related field.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant aerospace engineering experience with a previous role involving mission assurance design or reliability engineering or a senior systems engineering role.
• Proven track record in requirements management verification planning and systems integration for aerospace or defense systems.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and present to executives/customers.
• Strong experience with risk management methodologies and tools (FMEA FTA hazard analysis).
• Experience with integration of interdisciplinary systems in the aerospace industry.
• Familiarity with AS9100 NASA DoD or equivalent aerospace quality/assurance standards.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• 5 years of relevant aerospace engineering experience with a previous role involving mission assurance design or reliability engineering or a senior systems engineering role.
• Masters degree in aerospace mechanical electrical manufacturing systems engineering or related field.
• Experience with safety-critical aerospace systems including development and execution of flight hazard analyses and mitigation strategies in accordance with industry and regulatory standards.
• Knowledge of quality tools such as measurement systems analysis design of experiments statistical process control root cause analysis and corrective action advanced product quality planning (APQP) metrology process failure mode and effects analysis (PFMEA) control plans and various problem-solving approaches.
• Dedicated to adopting a lean approach to quality without compromising safety or reliability.
• Professional experience in a role requiring programming skills including familiarity with MATLAB.

Pay Range

• Salary range:
  • Systems Engineer II: $115000 - $155000/per year
  • Senior Systems Engineer: $145000 - $175000/per year
• This role ison-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

• Varda like all employers must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. At present some of our technology to which employees have access requires a license to be exported to individuals other than U.S. Persons as defined in U.S. export regulations. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items our current policy is to only hire U.S. persons who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.

  US person means: U.S. citizen U.S. lawful permanent resident or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e. individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum in the U.S.)

  Learn more about the ITAR here.

Benefits