Payload Systems Integration and Test Engineer

Vardaspace; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 153,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible PTO

Medical insurance

Relocation support

Equity incentives

Company events

Job summary

Varda is seeking a Payload Systems Integration and Test Engineer to own end-to-end mission success for a diverse payload portfolio, including in-house pharma payloads and hosted customer payloads. You will define interfaces, plan integration and test campaigns, and ensure safe data return and hardware recovery.

You will bridge payloads with the Varda vehicle, plan tests, and coordinate across engineering disciplines, ensuring readiness for flight operations and on-console support as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Chemical, Systems Engineering, or other relevant field.
• 2+ years in spacecraft payload integration and testing or equivalent electro‑mechanical hardware work.
• First-principles problem solving and broad system-level thinking.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfortable working hands-on in a cleanroom with critical flight hardware and capable of lifting 25 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Act as responsible engineer for assigned payloads from initial scoping through post-flight data delivery, for in-house pharma payloads and hosted customer payloads.
• Scope payload-to-vehicle interfaces with providers, capture requirements in ICDs, coordinate any special accommodations or vehicle changes with related engineering disciplines.
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for external payload customers throughout the mission lifecycle.
• Plan and execute payload-level integration and test activities, including inspections, functional checkouts, and environmental testing (vibration, EMI/EMC, TVAC).
• Coordinate with Vehicle I&T to plan and execute full-vehicle test activities (payload installation, system compatibility, mission scenario testing).
• Identify, document, troubleshoot, and resolve technical issues during integration and test activities.
• Work with mission operations to define payload flight operations and support on-console operations.
• Drive lessons learned into interface docs and integration processes.

Skills

Systems integration

Electro-mechanical hardware

First-principles problem solving

Strong communication

Cleanroom experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

TVAC testing

EMI/EMC testing

ICD management

GSFC-STD-7000

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

As a Payload Systems Integration and Test Engineer at Varda, you will own the end-to-end mission success for a diverse portfolio of payloads, including both internally designed payloads and hosted customer payloads. Example payloads may include inertial, RF, or optical sensors or communication systems, as well as various types of pharmaceutical processing equipment and instrumentation.

You will serve as the technical bridge between each payload and the Varda vehicle, defining interfaces, planning and executing integration and test campaigns, coordinating in-orbit operations, and ensuring safe recovery of payload data and hardware. When payloads require special accommodations or vehicle modifications, you will work across the vehicle engineering team to scope and implement these changes.

This role is ideal for system-minded engineers with broad cross-disciplinary background, looking to do both concept synthesis as well as hands-on integration and test.

Responsibilities

• Act as responsible engineer for assigned payloads from initial scoping through post-flight data delivery, for both in-house pharma payloads and hosted customer payloads
• Work with payload providers to scope and define payload-to-vehicle interfaces, capture requirements in ICDs and coordinate any special accommodations or vehicle changes with related engineering disciplines
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for external payload customers throughout the mission lifecycle (early-stage scoping through deorbit and recovery)
• Plan and execute payload-level integration and test activities, including incoming inspection, functional checkouts, and environmental testing (vibration, EMI/EMC, TVAC), plus payload-specific verifications such as leak testing or pharmaceutical process testing
• Coordinate with Vehicle I&T engineers to plan & execute full-vehicle test activities (e.g., payload installation, system compatibility & vehicle-in-the-loop mission scenario testing)
• Identify, document, troubleshoot, and resolve technical issues that arise during integration and test activities
• Work with mission operations engineers to define payload flight operations, command sequences, and operations procedures, and support on-console operations as needed to accomplish mission objectives
• Drive lessons learned from each mission into interface documentation, payload accommodation guides, and integration processes

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Chemical, Systems Engineering, or other relevant field
• 2+ years of experience integrating and testing spacecraft, payloads, or comparably complex electro-mechanical hardware
• First-principles problem solving and broad system-level thinking
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Comfortable working hands-on in a cleanroom with critical flight hardware
  • Must be physically able to regularly lift 25 lbs
  • Must be comfortable bending, stooping, and standing while working directly with hardware on the floor

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience integrating hosted or customer-furnished payloads onto a spacecraft or launch vehicle
• Experience developing and managing interface control documents, requirements, and verification/validation plans
• Hands-on experience with aerospace environmental testing (vibration, TVAC, EMI/EMC) and familiarity with standards such as GSFC-STD-7000 and SMC-S-016
• Exposure to pharmaceutical, biotech, or other regulated-industry hardware and quality practices
• Working knowledge of export control regulations (ITAR/EAR) as applied to technical exchanges with external parties

Pay Range

• Salary range:$119,543 - $152,749/per year
• This role ison-sitein 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

Consider your benefits covered for launch.At Varda, we invest in benefits andperksthat 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:

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 (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

Benefits forInternship Positions:

Health & Wellness

• Paidobservedholidays.

• 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.

Financial

• $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 & Per