Manager Systems, Integration, and Test

Vardaspace; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 198,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible PTO policy +12 paid holidays

100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match

Daily lunch and weekly dinner provided

Dog-friendly office space

Job summary

Vardaspace in El Segundo, California, is seeking a Systems Integration Engineer to lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for satellite development from requirements to launch. You will mentor engineers, manage project roadmaps, and ensure flight readiness of vehicles.

The role requires a B.S. degree in engineering and 5+ years of relevant experience. Join Vardaspace to help create a bustling in-space ecosystem with substantial incentives and a supportive benefits package.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in systems, integration, and/or test engineering.
• Experience with mentoring team members.
• Proven experience working on complex technical programs.

Responsibilities

• Mentor and manage a team of engineers.
• Own engineering development roadmap to sustain flight cadence.
• Lead team to develop vehicle integration and test campaigns.

Skills

Mentoring and team management

Problem-solving

First principles thinking

Collaboration

Education

B.S. degree in engineering, physics, or related field

Tools

C++

Python

Unigraphics NX

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

The Systems, Integration, and Test team is a multidisciplinary team working across the full lifecycle of satellite development from defining requirements through systems test. The team is responsible for each vehicle and ensures all systems are ready for launch and operations. This is a leadership role within the Systems, Integration, and Test team that will drive the processes and playbooks to consistently deliver robust and evolving vehicles to space.

Responsibilities

• Mentor and manage a team of engineers, including hiring and performance management
• Own engineering development roadmap to sustain increasing flight cadence
• Lead team to develop vehicle integration and test campaigns toensure flight readiness
• Manage the technical outcome and milestone schedule to enable the delivery of vehicles on schedule
• Develop frameworks to evaluate vehicle change impacts and drive execution of vehicle-level change implementation
• Stay hands-on with vehicle integration and test – get out on the floor and execute with the team when necessary

Basic Qualifications

• B.S. degree in engineering, physics, or related field and 5+ years of experience in systems, integration, and/or testengineering
• Experience with mentoring team members and comfortable in providing feedback to support professional or technical growth.
• Teamwork, communication, and problem solving in a collaborative environment
• Proven experience working on complex technical programs, preferably within aerospace or related industries
• Strong first principles thinking and technical breadth across relevant fields (structures, electronics, propulsion, software, etc.)
• Technical depth in electronics, fluid propulsion, and/or systems engineering

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with project management of the full lifecycle of a project
• Experience developing and communicating project technical roadmaps
• Experience with one or more general-purpose programming languages, such as C++ & Python
• Experience with aerospace hardware development practices (e.g., qualification testing practices, design for typical space environments, cleanliness, etc.)
• Unigraphics NX experience or similar CAD software

Pay Range

• Salary range: $170,000 - $198,000/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. 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
• Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet 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
• Sponsored One Medicalmemberships for employees and their dependents

Financial & Retirement

• Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up
• 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)
• $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
• Relocation support for new hires, if needed

Workplace Experience & Perks

• Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
• Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and 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. 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).

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 the E-Verify program.

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.