Senior Automation and Controls Software Engineer

Vardaspace; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 216,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible PTO policy

100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

12-weeks parental leave with supplemental disability leave

401(k) with 6% employer match

Dog-friendly office space

Complimentary EV charging

Job summary

Vardaspace is seeking a Senior Automation and Controls Software Engineer in El Segundo, CA. In this role, you will develop custom test infrastructure and engineering solutions for spaceflight hardware, with a significant emphasis on automation and controls. Your expertise will guide architecture decisions and help shape test automation processes throughout the organization.

Ideal candidates will have a BS in engineering and over 5 years of industry experience, particularly in test automation, controls, and integration with industrial hardware using protocols like EtherCAT. The position offers competitive compensation and benefits in a dynamic startup environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in test automation, controls, or industrial automation.
• Hands-on experience with integrations over EtherCAT and Modbus.
• Comfort working across the stack: control software, electrical design, and hardware debugging.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain test systems for flight hardware qualification.
• Integrate external hardware like thermal vacuum chambers and data acquisition systems.
• Contribute to architecture decisions on real-time control implementations.

Skills

Python programming

Integration with industrial hardware

PLC control systems

EtherCAT expertise

Education

BS in Electrical, Computer, Mechanical Engineering, or related field

Tools

Beckhoff TwinCAT 3

Docker

Job description

About this Role

As a Senior Automation and Controls Software Engineer at Varda, you’ll develop our custom test infrastructure and bespoke engineering solutions for spaceflight hardware. You’ll build sophisticated ground support equipment (GSE) and test systems supporting spacecraft development and manufacturing operations, working at the intersection of software, electrical, and mechanical domains.

This is a hands‑on engineering role on a small, growing team. You’ll have significant ownership over architecture decisions and the opportunity to shape how test automation is done across the organization, from propulsion test stands to environmental qualification to spacecraft‑level integration testing. Our stack includes a custom modern software‑engineering‑focused PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling, so you should be the kind of engineer who’s energized rather than intimidated by working inside a proprietary stack.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain test systems and ground support equipment for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing.
• Integrate with a wide range of external hardware: thermal vacuum chambers, ovens, chillers, pressure systems, data acquisition hardware, and instrumentation.
• Develop and extend our internal PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling.
• Contribute to architecture decisions on real‑time control implementation, including evaluation of PLC‑based (TwinCAT 3) vs. Linux‑based approaches for high‑frequency control applications.
• Build cabinets, wire panels, and own systems end‑to‑end from electrical design through commissioning.
• Partner with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams to deliver test infrastructure that meets their needs on aggressive timelines.
• Demonstrate sustainable engineering practices that help onboard new engineers to the tech stack and maintain production systems.

Basic Qualifications

• BS in Electrical, Computer, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of industry experience in test automation, controls, or industrial automation.
• Strong Python skills, particularly for hardware control or test automation applications.
• Hands‑on experience integrating with industrial hardware over protocols such as EtherCAT, Modbus (TCP/TRU), serial (RS-232/485), or similar.
• Experience with at least one modern PLC ecosystem, ideally Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 with structured text (IEC 61131-3) or willingness to develop deep expertise there.
• Comfort working across the stack: writing control software, designing electrical panels, wiring cabinets, debugging hardware.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced startup environment where priorities shift and you’re expected to own problems end‑to‑end.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience working with custom or in‑house control frameworks (vs. only vendor‑provided stacks).
• EtherCAT experience beyond consumer‑level usage—DC sync, ENI configuration, master implementation, or driver‑level work.
• Production experience with TwinCAT 3, structured text, and the broader IEC 61131-3 languages.
• Experience designing deterministic, hard real‑time control loops (sub‑millisecond cycle times).
• Understanding of when to use real‑time PLC code vs. higher‑level orchestration in Python—and the tradeoffs between them.
• Bare‑metal or embedded firmware experience.
• Experience with Docker and DevOps tooling for test infrastructure deployment.
• Experience with time‑series data acquisition and visualization (Grafana, InfluxDB, or similar).
• Aerospace experience, particularly spacecraft testing or GSE development.
• Environmental test experience: TVAC, thermal cycling, vibration.
• Hands‑on experience with high‑pressure gas or fluid systems.
• Experience developing propulsion test stands or other complex test infrastructure.
• Familiarity with spacecraft qualification standards.
• Experience developing safety‑related control systems and evaluating proposed solutions for reducing safety‑related risks.

Pay Range

• Salary range: $140,000.00 – $216,000.00 annually.
• This role is on‑site in 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

Varda offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support health, financial well‑being, and a high‑quality workplace experience.

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.
• Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance.
• $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses.
• 12‑weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers).
• Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic.
• Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents.

Financial & Retirement

• Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start‑up.
• 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested).
• $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement.
• Relocation support for new hires, if needed.

Workplace Experience & Perks

• Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly.
• Company and team‑bonding events, happy hours and mission‑success celebrations.
• Complimentary EV charging.
• Dog‑friendly office space.

ITAR Requirements

Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export‑controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export‑controlled items, our policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.

“US person” means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).

E-Verify Statement

Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E‑Verify program. The E‑Verify program is an Internet‑based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E‑Verify program.

Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.