Build Reliability Engineer

Vardaspace; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 109,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Stock options

Job summary

Vardaspace in El Segundo, California is seeking a Build Reliability Engineer to work closely with design and manufacturing teams to enhance the production of spacecraft hardware. The ideal candidate will ensure production processes yield reliable hardware and support various quality initiatives.

Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree in engineering and experience in data analysis and troubleshooting. You will play a key role in establishing testing and inspection plans, ensuring product compliance, and contributing to mission assurance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, computer science, electrical, manufacturing, mechanical, or material sciences engineering.
• Experience generating, processing, and/or analyzing data for production insight.
• Experience troubleshooting complex engineering issues.

Responsibilities

• Create test, manufacturability, and inspection plans for spacecraft hardware.
• Guide quality inspectors and engineers on non-conforming products.
• Perform failure modes and effects analyses for flight hardware.

Skills

Data analysis

Troubleshooting

Interpersonal skills

Programming

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

CNC machining

Additive manufacturing

Quality tools

Job description

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

We are looking for a Build Reliability Engineer who will partner closely with design and manufacturing teams to scale production of spacecraft hardware. The role will ensure production processes yield verified, reliable hardware at rate and will support Quality, Flight Reliability, and Mission Assurance.

Responsibilities

• Partner with design engineering and manufacturing teams to create test, manufacturability, and inspection plans for all vehicle hardware.
• Contain suspect or known non‑conforming product, providing guidance to quality inspectors, technicians, shop supervisors, and engineers.
• Perform failure modes and effects analyses, build requirements compliance matrix tools, and ensure adequate test coverage, change management, and manufacturability of flight hardware.
• Support vehicle‑level deliverables for regulatory bodies including requirements compliance, functional or flight hazard analyses, and verification evidence.
• Support Mission Assurance’s vehicle‑level risk management and identification, tracking, and execution of mitigations.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, computer science, electrical, manufacturing, mechanical, or material sciences engineering.
• Experience generating, processing, and/or analyzing data for production insight.
• Experience troubleshooting complex engineering issues, performing root‑cause and corrective action investigations, and implementing corrective actions.
• Strong computer skills with demonstrated ability in a programming language.
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, with a drive to innovate and improve reliability in cutting‑edge technology.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Full project lifecycle ownership experience (cradle‑to‑grave).
• Proficiency with 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.
• Hands‑on knowledge of CNC machining, additive manufacturing, castings, welding, fastening, or other special manufacturing processes.
• Commitment to lean quality principles without compromising safety or reliability.

Pay Range

• Salary range: $109,000–$145,000 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

Varda offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support health, financial well‑being, and a high‑quality workplace experience. Mand mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand mand