Propulsion Systems Engineer II — Hardware & Bus

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

Job summary

Varda Space is seeking a Propulsion Engineer II – Hardware & Bus Systems in El Segundo, CA. You will be a hands-on technical owner of the propulsion subsystem across our spacecraft fleet, helping to own and maintain system architecture, develop analysis products, and contribute to propulsion hardware design, testing, and operations.

You'll work in a fast-moving interdisciplinary team, build breadth, and raise the bar on every task, from ground testing to in-orbit operations, while collaborating

Qualifications

• B.S. in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent).
• 3+ years hands-on propulsion or fluid systems design, build or test for spacecraft/launch vehicles.
• Experience with flight fluid system hardware, tubing, fittings, seals, valves, instrumentation.
• Ability to read and/or author P&IDs.

Responsibilities

• Support and maintain the propulsion system baseline, including P&IDs and system documentation.
• Design, analyze, and test propulsion hardware and components for satellite buses.
• Scope propulsion upgrades on vehicles to improve reliability and cadence.
• Define requirements and high-level propulsion architecture for future vehicles.
• Generate propulsion analysis outputs and document key requirements for cross-disciplinary teams.
• Develop Python scripts and tools to automate analysis and data review workflows.
• Perform detailed mechanical design and FE analysis of propulsion hardware.
• Prepare design docs, specs, procedures, and memos.
• Support in-flight propulsion operations under senior supervision.
• Disposit nonconformances and assist investigations and corrective actions.

Skills

P&ID reading

CAD tools (CATIA, SolidWorks, NX)

Problem solving

Ownership of tasks

Education

B.S. in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering

Tools

ANSYS

NASTRAN

GFSSP

GD&T (ASME Y14.5)

Job description

Varda Space is seeking a Propulsion Engineer II – Hardware & Bus Systems in El Segundo, CA. You will be a hands-on technical owner of the propulsion subsystem across our spacecraft fleet, helping to own and maintain system architecture, develop analysis products, and contribute to propulsion hardware design, testing, and operations.

You'll work in a fast-moving interdisciplinary team, build breadth, and raise the bar on every task, from ground testing to in-orbit operations, while collaborating