Manager, Vehicle Systems Integration & Test

Varda Space; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 246,000; Full time

Job summary

Varda Space is seeking a leader for the Vehicle Systems, Integration, & Test team in El Segundo. You will guide multi-disciplinary engineering efforts to ensure vehicle readiness for launch and operations, while shaping processes and playbooks for robust, evolving spacecraft.

The role emphasizes mentoring, roadmap ownership, and hands-on testing, with a focus on cross-disciplinary knowledge across structures, electronics, propulsion, and software.

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in engineering, physics, or related field and 5+ years of experience in systems, integration, and/or test engineering.
• Experience mentoring team members and providing feedback to support growth.
• Teamwork, communication, and problem solving in a collaborative environment.
• Proven experience on complex technical programs, preferably aerospace or related industries.
• Strong first principles thinking and technical breadth across relevant fields (structures, electronics, propulsion, software).
• Technical depth in electronics, propulsion, and/or systems engineering.
• Familiarity with project management of the full lifecycle is a plus.
• Experience with C++ and Python is beneficial.

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 to ensure 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.

Skills

Mentoring

Teamwork

Communication

Problem solving

Aerospace experience

First principles thinking

Electronics depth

Propulsion knowledge

Software breadth

C++

Python

Education

B.S. in Engineering/Physics

Tools

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 Vehicle Systems, Integration, & 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

PreferredSkills 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: $170,280 - $245,960/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

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 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.