Manufacturing Engineer II- Structures

Varda Space Industries, Inc.; El Segundo, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 153,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible PTO

Company-paid Medical, Dental & Vision

401(k) with 6% match

Relocation support

Wellness reimbursement

One Medical memberships

Parental leave

Stock options

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Varda Space Industries in El Segundo, CA, is hiring a Manufacturing Engineer II- Structures to own the manufacturing processes for primary and secondary structural assemblies of reentry capsules and spacecraft. You will bridge structural design intent with production reality, working closely with design engineers and technicians to improve process discipline and vehicle build cadence.

You will develop detailed work instructions, process specifications, and tooling strategies, while guiding

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Materials Engineering or related field.
• 3+ years of manufacturing experience with structural assembly or manufacturing (riveted/welded structures, machined metals, or composites).
• Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, GD&T, and assembly models.
• Experience writing and maintaining manufacturing process documentation and work instructions.

Responsibilities

• Own manufacturing processes for composite structures and bonded assemblies.
• Develop and maintain work instructions, process specs, and travelers for structural build operations.
• Provide DFM feedback to design engineers on part design, tooling accessibility, and fastener patterns.
• Enforce cleanliness, FOD prevention, and contamination control in composite/bonded structures.
• Lead non-conformance investigations and drive corrective actions.
• Define and procure tooling (drill jigs, fixtures) for production scale.
• Refine floor layouts to improve throughput and reduce travel time.
• Coordinate with supply chain on material inspection requirements.

Skills

Structural assemblies

GD&T interpretation

Read engineering drawings

Process documentation

Root cause analysis

Tooling design

Manufacturing problem solving

Fabrication methods

Physical work capability

Education

B.S. in Mechanical or Materials Engineering

M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (optional)

Tools

CATIA

SolidWorks

NX

Job description

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

As the Manufacturing Engineer II- Structures at Varda, you will own the manufacturing processes for primary and secondary structural assemblies that form the backbone of our reentry capsules and spacecraft. From composite layup and cure operations to machined metallic substructures and bonded panel assemblies, you will bridge the gap between structural design intent and production reality. You will work shoulder-to-shoulder with structural design engineers and a skilled technician team to drive process discipline, eliminate rework, and steadily increase vehicle build cadence. This is a hands-on role for someone who understands how parts are actually made, not just how they are designed, and who is energized by the challenge of scaling a complex aerospace manufacturing operation. This role is open at the Engineer II and Senior level, with levels determined based on candidate experience.

Responsibilities

• Own manufacturing processes for composite structures (wet layup, prepreg, autoclave/oven cure), machined metallic components, and bonded assemblies
• Develop and maintain detailed work instructions, process specifications, and manufacturing travelers for all structural build operations
• Provide DFM feedback to structural design engineers on composite part design, tooling accessibility, bond joint design, and fastener patterns
• Implement and enforce cleanliness, FOD prevention, and contamination control procedures for composite and bonded structure operations
• Lead non-conformance investigations and root cause corrective actions for structural build defects and materials issues, including dimensional discrepancies and tolerance stackups, coating failures or damage to structure or protective coatings
• Define and procure tooling — drill jigs, assembly fixtures — required to support production scaling
• Refine floor layouts and product flow for structural subassembly work cells to reduce travel time and improve throughput
• Coordinate with supply chain on incoming material inspection requirements for composite materials, adhesives, and structural raw stock

Basic Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical or Materials Engineering, or a related discipline, with consideration given to equivalent professional experience (typically 1–3+ years)
• 3+ years of manufacturing experience with structural assembly or manufacturing — Riveted or welded structures, machined metals, or composites and bonded structures
• Strong understanding of structural static loads analysis, mechanical properties of materials and processes used to assemble riveted and bolted structures.
• Hands‑on experience assembling and fabricating structural assemblies, such as welding, adhesive bonding, or riveting.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T callouts, and structural assembly models
• Experience writing and maintaining manufacturing process documentation and work instructions
• Strong problem‑solving skills; able to diagnose structural build defects and drive corrective action through to closure
• Must be physically able to regularly lift 25 lbs., bend, stoop, and stand for extended periods while working directly with hardware

Preferred Skills and Experience

• M.S. degree in Mechanical engineering specialized in Materials Science, Structural Analysis, or related discipline, with consideration given to equivalent professional experience
• Experience manufacturing primary flight structures for launch vehicles, satellites, or reentry systems
• Familiarity and strong understanding of dynamic and vibrational loads analysis
• Background in transitioning structural assemblies from R&D/prototype to rate production, including tooling qualification
• Knowledge of and familiarity with the manufacture of aerospace structural materials like aluminum alloys, titanium, and steel in a manufacturing context
• Experience with 3D CAD tools (CATIA, SolidWorks, NX) for tooling design and assembly model review
• Familiarity with first article inspection (FAI) processes and FAIR documentation requirements
• Prior experience at a new-space or defense prime where structural production cadence was actively being increased

Pay Range

• Salary Range:Eng II: $119,543-$152,749/per year
• 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 and perks that 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:

• 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)
• SponsoredOne Medicalmemberships for employees and their dependents
• 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

Intern Positions:

• 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
• $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
• Up to $4,000gross 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).

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.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Varda Space Industries’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.