Automation and Controls Software Engineer
Job Location:
El Segundo, CA - USA
Monthly Salary:
Posted on:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
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.
Join Varda and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.
About this Role
As an Automation and Controls Software Engineer at Varda youll develop our custom test infrastructure and bespoke engineering solutions for spaceflight hardware. Youll build sophisticated ground support equipment (GSE) and test systems supporting spacecraft development and manufacturing operations working at the intersection of software electrical and mechanical domains.
This is a hands-on engineering role on a small growing team. Youll have significant ownership over architecture decisions and the opportunity to shape how test automation is done across the organization from propulsion test stands to environmental qualification to spacecraft-level integration testing. Our stack includes a custom modern software-engineering-focused PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling so you should be the kind of engineer whos energized rather than intimidated by working inside a proprietary stack.
Responsibilities
- Design build andmaintaintest systems and ground support equipment for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing
- Integrate with a wide range of external hardware: thermal vacuum chambers ovens chillers pressure systems data acquisition hardware and instrumentation
- Develop and extend our internal PLC framework andEtherCATtooling
- Contribute to architecture decisions on real-time control implementation including evaluation of PLC-based (TwinCAT 3) vs. Linux-based approaches for high-frequency control applications
- Build cabinets wire panels and own systems end-to-end from electrical design through commissioning
- Partner with propulsion avionics GNC and manufacturing teams to deliver test infrastructure that meets their needs on aggressive timelines
- Demonstrate sustainable engineering practices that helponboard new engineers to the tech stack andmaintainproduction systems.
Basic Qualifications
- BS in Electrical Computer Mechanical Engineering or related field
- 4 years of industry experience in test automation controls or industrial automation
- Strong Python skills particularly for hardware control or test automation applications
- Hands-on experience integrating with industrial hardware over protocols likeEtherCATModbus(TCP/TRU) serial(RS232/485) or similar
- Experience with at least one modern PLC ecosystem ideally Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 with structured text (IEC 61131-3) or willingness to develop deepexpertisethere
- Comfort working across the stack: writing control software designing electrical panels wiring cabinets debugging hardware
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment where priorities shift andyoureexpected to own problems end-to-end
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Experience working with custom or in-house control frameworks (vs. only vendor-provided stacks)
- EtherCATexperience beyond consumer-level usage DC sync ENI configuration master implementation or driver-level work
- Production experience with TwinCAT 3 structured text and the broader IEC 61131-3 languages
- Experience designing deterministic hard real-time control loops (sub-millisecond cycle times)
- Understanding of when to use real-time PLC code vs. higher-level orchestration in Python and the tradeoffs between them
- Bare-metal or embedded firmware experience
- Experience with Docker and DevOps tooling for test infrastructure deployment
- Experience with time-series data acquisition and visualization (GrafanaInfluxDB or similar)
- Aerospace experience particularly spacecraft testing or GSE development
- Environmental test experience: TVAC thermal cycling vibration
- Hands-on experience with high-pressure gas or fluid systems
- Experience developing propulsion test stands or other complex test infrastructure
- Familiarity with spacecraft qualification standards
- Experience developing safety-related controlsystemsand evaluating proposed solutions for reducing safety-related risks.
Pay Range
- Salary range: $114000.00 - $18400.00/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 Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit qualifications and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race color gender national origin ethnicity veteran status disability status age sexual orientation gender identity martial status mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Benefits
Varda offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support health financial wellbeing and a highquality workplace experience. Below is an overview of what fulltime employees receive(at this time interns receive a subset of benefits):
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
- Voluntaryaccident hospital critical illnessandpet insurance
- $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
- 12weeks ofparental leave(with supplemental disability leavefor CAmothers)
- Family building pregnancyparentingand menopausebenefitsvia Maven Clinic
- SponsoredOne Medicalmemberships for employees and their dependents
Financial & Retirement
- Substantial incentive equityin a fully funded space start-up
- 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)
- $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
- Relocation supportfor new hires if needed
Workplace Experience & Perks
- Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
- Company and team-bonding events happyhoursand mission-success celebrations
- Complimentary EV charging
- Dog-friendly office space
ITAR Requirements
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 ITARhere.
E-Verify Statement
Varda Space Industries Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about theE-Verify program.
E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice
Required Experience:
IC
About Company
Expanding the economic bounds of humankind with the world's first orbital manufacturing & reentry platform.
