Senior Mechanisms Engineer Payloads
Job Location:
El Segundo, CA - USA
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
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.Vardas 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.
As a Senior Mechanisms Engineer on Vardas Payload team you will develop electromechanical flight hardware that operates in orbit endures hypersonic reentry and returns to Earth for inspection and iteration. You will own multi-payload missions across both pharmaceutical manufacturing and hypersonic reentry testbed missionsdriving hardware from concept through design analysis build test launch and recovery.
Youll collaborate closely with internal specialists and external partners translate high-level mission objectives into system designs and analyses and perform hands-on integration and testing to deliver hardware that flies in months not years. This role is ideal for engineers who pair strong mechanical expertise with the breadth to drive cross-functional efforts and the desire to deliver complex hardware on fast development cycles.
- Own multi-payload missions from concept through design integration launch reentry and recovery
- Lead the design of mechanisms structures thermal/fluid interfaces and electromechanical assemblies
- Independently perform structural thermal and fluid analyses (hand calcs python/matlab models and FEA as needed)
- Build instrument and test prototypes and flight hardware
- Coordinate cross-functional inputs (avionics software thermal systems integration)
- Serve as primary technical interface for multi-payload missions or complex payload development
- Drive subsystem requirements ICDs verification plans and documentation
- Lead mission operations and post-flight teardown
- Lead incorporation of lessons learned and continuous improvement
- Mentor entry-level engineers and interns
- BS/BEng in Mechanical Aerospace Mechatronics or related field
- 4 years of experience designing integrating testing and troubleshooting electromechanical hardware
- Strong mechanical expertise with breadth in at least one adjacent discipline (avionics software thermal optics test etc.)
- Experience delivering hardware into rigorous environments (aerospace defense medical automotive etc.)
- Ability to independently define tasks manage schedules and deliver integrated hardware
- Excellent cross-discipline communication skills
- Prior full cycle ownership of space flight hardware
- Experience integrating electromechanical actuators sensors thermal control hardware and/or fluid control hardware
- Experience planning and executingaerospace environmental testing (vibration TVAC EMI/EMC)
- Customer-facing technical communication experience
- Active Secret or Top Secret clearance
- Salary range: $140333 - $179314/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
Consider your benefits covered for launch.At Varda we invest in benefits andperksthat 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
- 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 (immediatelyvested)
- $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
Benefits forInternship Positions:
Health & Wellness
- Paidobservedholidays.
- 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 $4000gross up in relocation support ifeligible
- Up to $850commute 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 happyhoursand mission-success celebrations
- Complimentary EV charging
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. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items our 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).
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
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.
Required Experience:
Senior IC
About Company
Expanding the economic bounds of humankind with the world's first orbital manufacturing & reentry platform.
