Senior Fluid Systems Engineer - Payloads

Varda Space Industries; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 179,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Relocation support

401(k) with match

Health insurance

Job summary

Varda Space Industries in El Segundo, CA, is actively seeking a Senior Fluid Systems Engineer to develop first‑of‑its‑kind electromechanical fluid‑handling hardware for pharmaceutical manufacturing in microgravity, enduring hypersonic reentry, and returning to Earth for material extraction.

The role covers the full payload lifecycle from concept through design, build, test, launch, on‑orbit operation, recovery, and iteration for future missions, collaborating with pharmaceutical scientists and

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience designing, integrating, testing, and troubleshooting electromechanical hardware.
• Strong mechanical and fluid systems expertise with breadth in at least one adjacent discipline such as avionics, software, thermal, optics, test, or instrumentation.
• Experience delivering hardware for rigorous environments such as aerospace, defense, semiconductor manufacturing, or biotech manufacturing.
• Experience with valves, pumps, pistons, tubing, manifolds, fittings, seals, filters, sensors, and thermal-control hardware.

Responsibilities

• Own pharmaceutical manufacturing payloads from concept through design, integration, launch, in-orbit operation, reentry, and recovery.
• Lead the design of precision fluid systems including valves, pumps, pistons, manifolds, tubing, fittings, seals, filters, sensors, and thermal-control systems.
• Independently perform fluid, thermal, structural, and mechanism analyses (hand calcs, Python/MATLAB models, and FEA as needed).
• Build, instrument, and test prototypes and flight hardware to characterize flow rate, mixing, filtration, sealing, leak rate, pressure drop, thermal stability, contamination sensitivity, and reliability.
• Integrate cross-functional inputs from business development, pharmaceutical science, and spacecraft subsystem teams into payload requirements.
• Develop subsystem requirements, ICDs, verification plans, test reports, and recovery procedures.
• Lead continuous improvement and incorporation of lessons learned.
• Mentor entry-level engineers and interns.

Skills

Mechanical systems

Fluid systems

Cross-functional

Analytical thinking

Education

BS/BEng in Mechanical

Tools

Python

MATLAB

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 a Senior Fluid Systems Engineer on Varda's Payload team, you will develop first‑of‑its‑kind electromechanical fluid‑handling hardware that manufactures pharmaceuticals in microgravity, endures hypersonic reentry, and returns to Earth for material extraction. Your payloads will precisely meter, mix, filter, transport, and thermally control pharmaceutical materials in compact spacecraft‑compatible hardware. You'll be responsible for the full payload lifecycle—driving development from concept through design, analysis, build, test, launch, on‑orbit operation, recovery, post‑flight inspection, and iteration for future missions.

You'll collaborate closely with pharmaceutical scientists and process engineers to translate mission objectives into qualified hardware that flies in months, not years. This role is ideal for engineers who pair strong mechanical and fluid systems expertise with the breadth to drive cross‑functional efforts across thermal, mechanisms, avionics, software, integration, and test while delivering complex hardware on short development timelines.

Responsibilities

• Own pharmaceutical manufacturing payloads from concept through design, integration, launch, in‑orbit operation, reentry, and recovery
• Lead the design of precision fluid systems including valves, pumps, pistons, manifolds, tubing, fittings, seals, filters, sensors, and thermal‑control systems
• Independently perform fluid, thermal, structural, and mechanism analyses (hand calcs, Python/MATLAB models, and FEA as needed)
• Build, instrument, and test prototypes and flight hardware to characterize flow rate, mixing, filtration, sealing, leak rate, pressure drop, thermal stability, contamination sensitivity, and reliability
• Integrate cross‑functional inputs from business development, pharmaceutical science, and spacecraft subsystem teams into payload requirements
• Develop subsystem requirements, ICDs, verification plans, test reports, and recovery procedures
• Lead continuous improvement and incorporation of lessons learned
• Mentor entry‑level engineers and interns

Basic Qualifications

• BS/BEng in Mechanical, Aerospace, Mechatronics, Biomedical, Chemical, or related engineering discipline
• 4+ years of experience designing, integrating, testing, and troubleshooting electromechanical hardware
• Strong mechanical and fluid systems expertise with breadth in at least one adjacent discipline such as avionics, software, thermal, optics, test, precision instrumentation, etc.
• Experience delivering hardware for rigorous environments such as aerospace, defense, semiconductor manufacturing, or biotech manufacturing
• Experience with valves, pumps, pistons, tubing, manifolds, fittings, seals, filters, sensors, metering hardware, thermal‑control hardware, and/or compact fluidic assemblies
• Ability to independently define tasks, manage schedules, and deliver integrated hardware
• Excellent cross‑disciplinary communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior full‑cycle ownership of precision fluid‑handling hardware for relevant applications
• In Space: ECLSS, low‑thrust propulsion, astronaut suits, spacecraft thermal control, etc.
• On Earth: semiconductor process equipment, biotech process equipment, analytical instruments, medical devices, etc.
• Experience with P&IDs, fluid schematics, component sizing, pressure‑drop analysis, leak testing, flow characterization, 0D/1D fluid/thermal modeling, or design of experiments for process hardware
• Experience with compact systems that control small volumes of liquids or gases under thermal, cleanliness, pressure, sterility, or contamination constraints
• Experience planning and executing aerospace environmental testing (vibration, TVAC, EMI/EMC)
• Familiarity with microgravity fluid behavior, capillary‑driven flows, gas/liquid separation, two‑phase flow, cGMP principles, cleanroom practices, or regulated hardware environments

Pay Range

• Salary range: $140,333 - $179,314 per year
• 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

Regular Full‑Time Positions:

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 per 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 per 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

Benefits for Internship Positions:

Health & Wellness

• Paid observed holidays.
• 100% company‑paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer‑matched HSA options.
• $120 per month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses.
• Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents.

Financial

• $20 per pay period cell phone reimbursement.
• Up to $4,000 gross up in relocation support, if eligible
• Up to $850 commute credit through Lyft or car rental reimbursement, if eligible.

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

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.