Principal Manufacturing Engineer (Integration)

vardaspace; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Varda seeks a Principal Manufacturing Engineer (Integration) in El Segundo to orchestrate final spacecraft assembly across structures, propulsion, avionics, and TPS. You will own integration procedures from subassembly mating to flight-readiness, ensuring safety, schedule and quality on the factory floor.

The role demands exceptional situational awareness, rigorous process discipline, and the ability to resolve subsystem conflicts in real time while coordinating with engineering and

Qualifications

• BS or higher in Mechanical or Systems Engineering or related field.
• 6+ years in vehicle or system-level integration or final assembly in aerospace/defense/robotics.
• Experience developing and executing complex assembly or integration procedures.
• Strong ability to manage competing priorities and make real-time decisions on the factory floor.
• Excellent communication and coordination across multi-discipline teams.

Responsibilities

• Own spacecraft integration sequences and procedures from subassembly mating through final vehicle closeout and acceptance.
• Develop and maintain assembly travelers and integration work instructions that sequence all subsystem interfaces.
• Serve as primary interface between manufacturing and all engineering disciplines during vehicle integration.
• Identify and resolve interface conflicts, clearance issues, and sequence problems before they impact schedule.
• Lead integration readiness reviews and ensure pre-integration checkpoints are completed and documented.
• Drive root cause analysis and RCCA for integration non-conformances; disposition MRBs with design engineering.
• Track integration metrics and implement improvements to hit cadence goals.
• Define tooling and handling equipment requirements for safe vehicle integration operations.

Skills

Subsystem integration

Cross-functional coordination

Documentation & procedures

On-floor decision making

Mechanical aptitude

Education

B.S. in Mechanical or Systems Engineering

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 the Principal Manufacturing Engineer (Integration) at Varda, you will be the central orchestrator of spacecraft final assembly - responsible for the processes, sequence, and documentation that bring every subsystem together into a complete, flight-ready vehicle. You will own integration procedures from subassembly mating through final closeout, working at the convergence of structures, propulsion, avionics, and TPS to ensure every build is executed accurately, safely, and on schedule. This role demands exceptional situational awareness, meticulous attention to process discipline, and the confidence to resolve conflicts between subsystems in real time on the factory floor. If you thrive on complexity and find satisfaction in watching a spacecraft come together under your direction, this is the role for you.

Responsibilities

• Own spacecraft integration sequences and procedures from subassembly mating through final vehicle closeout and acceptance
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve assembly travelers and integration work instructions that sequence all subsystem interfaces correctly
• Serve as the primary interface between manufacturing and all engineering disciplines (structures, propulsion, avionics, TPS) during vehicle integration
• Identify and resolve interface conflicts, clearance issues, and assembly sequence problems before they impact build schedule
• Lead integration readiness reviews and ensure all pre-integration checkpoints - cleanliness, FOD sweeps, torque records, pin-to-pin checks - are completed and documented
• Drive root cause analysis and RCCA for integration non-conformances; disposition MRBs in coordination with design engineering
• Track integration metrics (planned vs. actual cycle time, NCR rates, rework hours) and implement targeted improvements to hit cadence goals
• Define tooling and lifting/handling equipment requirements for safe vehicle integration operations

Basic Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical or Systems Engineering, or a related discipline, with consideration given to equivalent professional experience (typically 6-10+ years)
• 6+ years of experience in vehicle or system-level integration roles or final assembly within aerospace, defense, robotics or similar industries
• Strong understanding of how multiple subsystems (mechanical, electrical, fluid) interface within a vehicle assembly
• Experience developing and executing complex assembly or integration procedures
• Ability to manage competing priorities and make sound, real-time decisions on the production floor
• Exceptional communication and coordination skills across multi-discipline teams
• Must be physically able to regularly lift 25 lbs., bend, stoop, and stand for extended periods while working directly with flight hardware

Preferred Skills and Experience

• M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering specialized in Embedded Systems, Mechatronics, Control Theory, or similar, or related discipline, with consideration given to equivalent professional experience
• Experience as a lead integration engineer or integration ME on a launch vehicle, satellite, or spacecraft program
• Familiarity with integration and test (I&T) flows for complex aerospace vehicles, including functional testing at each integration milestone
• Background managing integration of flight hardware from multiple subsystem suppliers or internal teams into a single vehicle
• Experience with configuration management and build record documentation in a re