Payload Systems Integration & Test Engineer II

Varda Space Industries; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 173,000; Full time

Job summary

Varda Space Industries in the United States seeks a Payload Systems, Integration, & Test Engineer II to own end‑to‑end mission success for assigned payloads, including both in‑house and hosted customer payloads. You will bridge payloads with the Varda vehicle, define interfaces, and lead integration and test campaigns.

You’ll coordinate with vehicle and mission operations teams to scope changes, implement required accommodations, and ensure safe recovery of data and hardware.

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.
• Experience owning a hardware element through an integration and test campaign.
• Demonstrated ability to carry multiple hardware efforts concurrently against fixed schedule milestones.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Act as responsible engineer for assigned payloads from initial scoping through post‑flight data delivery.
• Work with payload providers to understand mission objectives, derive detailed requirements, and capture interfaces in ICDs.
• Collaborate across engineering disciplines to scope and implement special accommodations and payload‑specific vehicle changes.
• 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 and environmental testing.
• Identify, document, troubleshoot, and resolve technical issues during integration and test.
• Define payload flight operations and support on‑console operations to achieve mission objectives.

Skills

Payload integration

Hands-on hardware

System-level thinking

Communication skills

Problem solving

Physical fitness

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Job description

Varda Space Industries in the United States seeks a Payload Systems, Integration, & Test Engineer II to own end‑to‑end mission success for assigned payloads, including both in‑house and hosted customer payloads. You will bridge payloads with the Varda vehicle, define interfaces, and lead integration and test campaigns.

You’ll coordinate with vehicle and mission operations teams to scope changes, implement required accommodations, and ensure safe recovery of data and hardware.