Propulsion Engineer I: Spacecraft Hardware & Bus Systems

Varda Space Industries; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 109,000 - 139,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Long-term cash awards

Job summary

Varda Space Industries is seeking a Propulsion Engineer I to own propulsion hardware across our spacecraft fleet. You will develop architecture, analyze, size components, and support testing, operations, and software tools for vehicles on the ground and in orbit.

You will own assigned hardware within a fast-moving team, building technical breadth and advancing propulsion design, production, and operation fundamentals through projects at Varda. This role is based on-site in El Segundo, CA.

Qualifications

• BS in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or closely related field; equivalent experience considered.
• Hands-on propulsion or fluid systems design, build, or test for spacecraft/launch vehicles.
• Knowledge of flight fluid system hardware: pressurized components, tubing, fittings, seals, valves, instrumentation.
• Ability to read P&IDs; P&ID authoring is a plus.
• Proficiency with CAD tools (NX, SolidWorks, CATIA) and PLM.
• Experience authoring or executing operational procedures for ground tests or flight campaigns.
• Demonstrated ownership of technical tasks and driving to resolution.

Responsibilities

• Support and maintain propulsion system baseline documentation (P&IDs, system docs).
• Design, analyze, and test propulsion hardware and components for spacecraft buses.
• Execute propulsion system upgrades on vehicles to improve reliability and cadence.
• Support future vehicle requirements and contribute to plans, roadmaps, milestones.
• Generate propulsion performance analyses; provide inputs to cross-disciplinary teams.
• Build Python scripts and spreadsheets to automate analyses and data review workflows.
• Perform detailed mechanical design and FE analysis using ANSYS/NASTRAN.
• Write and review design docs, specs, test procedures, and memos.
• Support in-flight propulsion operations under senior engineer oversight.
• Disposition hardware nonconformances and assist in anomaly investigations.

Skills

Propulsion design

Fluid systems

CAD tools

P&ID reading

Procedures & docs

Python scripting

FEA tools (ANSYS/NASTRAN)

Education

BS in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Python scripting

ANSYS/NASTRAN

Job description

Varda Space Industries is seeking a Propulsion Engineer I to own propulsion hardware across our spacecraft fleet. You will develop architecture, analyze, size components, and support testing, operations, and software tools for vehicles on the ground and in orbit.

You will own assigned hardware within a fast-moving team, building technical breadth and advancing propulsion design, production, and operation fundamentals through projects at Varda. This role is based on-site in El Segundo, CA.