Ground Support Equipment Engineer - Automation & EtherCAT

Vardaspace; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 109,000 - 153,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

On-site in El Segundo, CA

Relocation assistance

Comprehensive benefits

Team events

Job summary

Varda, a space startup based in El Segundo, CA, seeks an Automation & Controls Engineer to design, build, and own ground support equipment for orbit-ready test hardware. You will work on propulsion test stands, environmental chambers, and real-time control systems using Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 and IEC 61131-3.

You should have a strong background in industrial automation, EtherCAT, and hardware integration, with a track record of end-to-end ownership in a fast-paced startup.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field required.
• 2+ years in test automation, controls, or industrial automation.
• Hands-on experience with EtherCAT, Modbus, RS-232/485, or similar protocols.
• Experience with Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 or similar PLC ecosystem.
• Comfort across full stack: control software, electrical panels, wiring, debugging hardware.
• Thrives in fast-paced startup with end-to-end ownership.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain test systems and GSE for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing operations.
• Integrate with external hardware (thermal vacuum chambers, ovens, chillers, pressure systems, data acquisition).
• Develop and extend internal PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling.
• Evaluate real-time control approaches (PLC vs Linux) for high-frequency control.
• Build cabinets, wire panels, and own end-to-end system life cycle.

Skills

Electrical Eng

Controls

Test automation

Industrial automation

EtherCAT

TwinCAT 3

PLC programming

Hardware debugging

Education

Bachelor's in EE

Tools

Beckhoff TwinCAT 3

IEC 61131-3

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.

What you will do (Job Responsibilities)

Our Automation & Controls team builds bespoke test infrastructure that qualifies spaceflight hardware for orbit. You will design, build, and own sophisticated ground support equipment (GSE) and test systems: propulsion test stands, environmental qualification chambers, spacecraft‑level integration testing and more! Our stack is modern, including a custom PLC framework and Beckhoff EtherCAT tooling built in-house. You will have a meaningful impact on architecture decisions, and the chance to define standards that will outlast any single program.

• Design, build, and maintain test systems and ground support equipment (GSE) for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing operations.
• Integrate with a wide range of external hardware, including thermal vacuum chambers, ovens, chillers, pressure systems, data acquisition hardware, and precision instrumentation.
• Develop and extend Varda's internal PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling to support evolving program needs.
• Contribute to architecture decisions on real‑time control implementation, including evaluation of PLC-based (TwinCAT 3) versus 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.
• Champion sustainable engineering practices that enable new engineers to ramp quickly on the tech stack and maintain production systems reliably.

What you will bring (Basic Qualifications)

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• 2+ years of industry experience in test automation, controls, and/or industrial automation.
• Hands‑on experience integrating with industrial hardware over protocols such as EtherCAT, Modbus (TCP/RTU), RS‑232/485 serial, or similar communication standards.
• Experience with at least one modern PLC ecosystem – ideally Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 with structured text (IEC 61131‑3), or a demonstrated eagerness to develop deep expertise there.
• Comfort working across the full stack: writing control software, designing electrical panels, wiring cabinets, and debugging hardware.
• Proven ability to thrive in a fast‑paced startup environment where priorities shift, and end‑to‑end ownership of problems is expected.

What would be a plus (Preferred Qualifications)

• Strong intuition for when to use real‑time PLC code versus higher‑level Python orchestration, and a clear understanding of the trade‑offs between the two.
• Experience working with custom or in‑house control frameworks, rather than relying solely on vendor‑provided stacks.
• Advanced EtherCAT expertise beyond consumer‑level usage — including DC sync, ENI configuration, master implementation, or driver‑level work.
• Production experience with TwinCAT 3, structured text, and the broader IEC 61131‑3 language suite.
• Experience designing deterministic, hard real‑time control loops with sub‑millisecond cycle times.
• Familiarity with time‑series data acquisition and visualization tools such as Grafana, InfluxDB, or similar platforms.
• Aerospace experience, particularly in spacecraft testing or GSE development.
• Environmental test experience, including TVAC, thermal cycling, and vibration testing.
• Hands‑on experience working with high‑pressure gas or fluid systems.
• Experience developing propulsion test stands or other complex, multi‑subsystem test infrastructure.
• Familiarity with spacecraft qualification standards and associated documentation requirements.
• Experience developing safety‑related control systems and evaluating proposed solutions for reducing safety‑related risks.

How Varda compensates

• Salary range: $109,000 - $153,000 annually.
• Eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long‑term cash awards.
• 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.
• Offer compensation also includes the ability to receive stock options under the Company's Equity Incentive Plan.

Benefits

Varda offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support health, financial well‑being, and a high‑quality workplace experience. Below is an overview of what full‑time 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 illness,andpet insurance
• $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
• 12weeks ofparental leave(with supplemental disability leavefor CAmothers)
• Family building, pregnancy,parentingand 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

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. 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.