Payload Mechanisms Engineer: Flight Hardware for Space

Varda Space Industries; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 153,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

401(k) with 6% employer match

Relocation support

Wellness reimbursement

Job summary

Varda Space Industries is seeking a Mechanisms Engineer for our Payload team in El Segundo, CA. You will develop electromechanical flight hardware for pharmaceutical processing payloads and reentry testbeds, from concept through build, test, launch, and recovery.

You will collaborate with internal experts and external partners, translating requirements into flight-ready designs and performing hands-on integration and testing.

Qualifications

• BS/BEng in Mechanical, Aerospace, Mechatronics, or related engineering discipline.
• Strong fundamentals in structures, heat transfer, fluids, and dynamics.
• Hands-on experience designing, integrating, testing, and troubleshooting electromechanical hardware.
• Ability to communicate effectively across disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Own payload hardware from concept through design, integration, launch, reentry, and recovery.
• Design mechanisms, structures, thermal/fluid interfaces, and electromechanical assemblies.
• Run structural, thermal, and fluid analyses (hand calcs, simplified models, and FEA as needed).
• Build, instrument, and test prototypes and flight hardware.
• Work across avionics, software, thermal, systems, and integration teams to define interfaces and ensure compatibility.
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for assigned payloads.
• Generate documentation: requirements, ICDs, procedures, test reports.
• Support mission operations and post-flight teardown.
• Contribute to lessons learned and continuous improvement.

Skills

Structures & heat transfer

Electromechanical hardware

Cross-disciplinary communication

Education

BS/BEng in Mechanical, Aerospace or Mechatronics

Tools

NX CAD

FEA: Ansys/Nastran

Job description

Varda Space Industries is seeking a Mechanisms Engineer for our Payload team in El Segundo, CA. You will develop electromechanical flight hardware for pharmaceutical processing payloads and reentry testbeds, from concept through build, test, launch, and recovery.

You will collaborate with internal experts and external partners, translating requirements into flight-ready designs and performing hands-on integration and testing.